About me
I grew up in the Ribble Valley, in the North West of England - under the watchful eye of Pendle Hill, infamous for the Pendle Witches. (I’ve recenly found out my 10th great grandmother was one such witch hanged at the gallows of Lancaster castle in 1612)
After epically failing my A’levels I went to Zurich to become an au pair. A year later after touring Europe, I hitched home with a lorry driver who kindly dropped me off in London. Forward 37 years and I’m still here, living with my family in South London - although they could all do with moving out!
In my 20’s I trained as a Naturopath and Reflexologist. I ran a busy practice for 15 years but when my third child came along the work/life balanced tipped in favour of domesticity. Unsurprisngly I became a little restless so I started ‘collecting conversations’.
Not ever intending to write a book I published Collecting Conversations in 2018. I’ve journaled My self-publishing journey for anyone else who struggles with the idea of starting something and wondering where it might end up.
As if chatting to 100 women wasn’t enough, I decided to chat with 100 men too! Mid flow I got distracted by my menopause and retaliated by purging Menopause - A Hot Topic The need to share was intense!
2020 Covid arrived and thankfully my menopause left. During lockdown I spent my time interviewing men from all over the world, albeit from my garden shed, via Zoom. Men Talk is out NOW!
I also paint from time to time. It’s a free expression of abstraction! Nothing more, nothing less - I do it for me. Some folk like it, some dont. I’ve just been commission for my first piece!
I like things to look lovely - I’m big on aesthetics. I enjoy gardening but it’s starting to make my body sore! I practise meditation and yoga. Recently I’ve started studying astrology… ‘an intricate spiritual map that reflects your soul’s journey through existence’…A joy!
My work has been featured in GoodHousekeeping, WILife, and various national and local press. I’ve been interviewed on BBC Radio London. And, if you want to see me right out of my comfort zone, here is my TedX talk.