Back to creating everyday…

One of my intentions for this year is to get back to daily creating. Flow comes quickly when discipline is in place and I am a huge fan of dedicated practices. It has always served me well and I want to lean into this wholeheartedly, showing up with cognitive intention.

… I’m feeling ignited.

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”

— Pablo Picasso

©JeanneMarieArt 2026

She Stands Where Forests Begin...

She’s part human and all nature She listens where human ends and forest begins, to what is spoken without words. In a world that speaks too much and hides behind too many words… her gift is to listen to the nuance of what is not being said! There’s a yin-yang feel to this piece, a balance between softness and strength, listening and presence and light and dark!

She has completely captivated my mind and heart the past two weeks and I loved finishing her story. Moving between light and dark paint took much time and was delicate work. I had lots of time to think about this beautiful concept of being the listener and observer.

©JeanneMarieArt 2026

The Wisdom She Shared Quietly…

As I finished her story, I saw that look in her eye and I thought - phew, she knows things! I am always so deeply moved to work with these souls as their natures always come through. It feels like alchemy to me because it’s an inanimate object but I always find so much soul and emotion during my process with them and all the way to the end!

I kind of made this piece together with my daughter. She started it in grade 5 and it’s been in my studio ever since. She got quite damaged in transit and with Kat’s permission, I repaired her and modified her… A kind of collaboration. Kat checked in with me throughout my painting process and has given her final nod of approval.

I have lots of works in progress… so more soon.

Beautiful Tomar...

Since our visit to Fatima in October, I knew I wanted to return to Tomar to visit, they are basically neighbours. I have only heard incredible things about how beautiful and spiritual it is.

I thought about visiting both places over Christmas because apparently both places are so special over this time of year. With us being intentional about creating new memories and stories around this time of year we knew we wanted to do some exploring. Everything was closed here on Boxing Day, so we visited on the 27th. Kat took a bus in to Aveiro to join me and the Afonso family and we decided to tour Tomar together. It was a space they also wanted to visit so the stars aligned for all of us to do this together. We had big plans but ended up only being able to see one main venue but it was more than enough for one day. We visited the Convento de Cristo first and spent hours quietly walking through the convent. How I connect to places is by photographing it and capturing many beautiful sacred spaces, playing with the natural light that most ancient places understood so beautifully.

This space has captivated my mind completely, the paintings were exquiste, the ceiling and everything about this space ticked a lot of boxes for me. Utterly breathtaking.

I am still learning about the history of Tomar and I am hoping to take another trip soon for a guided tour and maybe take in more sites. But for now, It was a privilege to take a peek into this beautiful world! Tomar and I have some unfinished business, I’ll keep you posted.

I am so in love with Portugal and in awe of everyday and every visual moment and I’m so loving capturing this beautiful world with my camera. How incredible to walk in awe daily, this is an incredible gift for me and I’m so utterly grateful!

Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026...

How are we already on the last day of January?

It went by in a blur and I had to go back into my photo album to remember all that happened, some things already feel ages ago and others feel but a moment ago.

December was a big beautiful intentional month and both Kat and myself went out of our way to make some new traditions. It was the first time in 4 years we felt ready to celebrate the holidays which felt significant for both of us. I was deeply touched to get invited to some family celebrations this year and I graciously accepted and spent time with my dear friends in Aveiro. It was good for me and very uplifting. I closed out 2025 with a day trip to Tomar before heading home, I’ll share more about that in a separate post. I also did another gorgeous walk to Lisbon Cathedral with my friend, Pam which we both wanted to do before the year ended.

I was also determined to see the fireworks in Cascais on New Years Eve. I had to make last minute plans for the evening which ended up being such a beautifully unscripted evening with a good ending. We crawled into bed around 2am and honestly to see out 2025 so kindly was truly an unexpected gift!

Goodbye 2025 and Hello 2026!

I stayed in Cascais on New Years Eve as we had planned to be up early to do the cold water sea swim that everyone notoriously does on the 1st January known as Primeiro banho do ano (first swim of the year). The only problem was that it was bitterly cold and wet but we were committed to each other to see it through. I’m so proud of us. The water was bearable but getting undressed… not so much!

This image of the four of us running into the sea is by far one of my favourite images from the past year and there were many. I’ve decided to have it printed out and I will place it somewhere special. I took my tripod with me and filmed us entering in and exiting out. This image was worth the effort.

Thank you beautiful ladies… same time next year. xxx

I have quietly entered January with some post December blues. It’s an old familiar January companion of mine. I am amazed just how much my body still keeps the score to some of these old pattens and rhythms. The beauty for me now is not fighting it but I have rather ushered her in to sit with me and we will go gently together as we navigate our way back to that deep sense of joy I’ve been walking with the past six months. I am using all my modalities to recover… writing every morning, somatic movement, predominately Tai Chi, Swimming Dragon which is profoundly mood stabilising. I am also back to painting everyday, walking everyday and of course, swimming when I can, storm dependent.

With somatic movement and painting, the brain engages in such a way that it can’t be distracted by pain or intrusive thoughts and for those beautiful hours there is no discomfort.

My walks continue to be visually exquisite and a reminder to me that when you seek, you will always find beautiful wherever you go. My photography continues to mature and grow and has always been an additional support to my creative process. I’ve been getting a lot of messages and requests for my images lately and this has been a delightful surprise. I’m exploring some creative ideas around this.

So that all being said, a tad bit late, as usual… Happy New Year to you and may 2026 be your best year yet, from my heart to yours, always… Jeanne-Marie

Salty water...

I am told cold water swimming increases Dopamine but salty water increases Oxytocin and Serotonin.

Oxytocin is the feminine hormone that aides connection and closeness. Also known as the love and cuddle hormone. It increases trust, warmth, intuition, and emotional clarity and helps one feel more connected to others and self.

Connected, grounded and softened…. To me this is alignment… heart and soul alignment, hormone alignment and alignment to the self. Pure alchemy and absolutely… YES to all of this!

The more I am experiencing my life and body changing after an incredible swimming season, I think it has everything to do with the water, but honestly I think more the salty water over the cold water. Both have their benefits, of course, but for me the profound changes I’ve seen has to do with the releasing of these powerful hormones to lift sadness, depression and give oneself inner love.

Something has changed with me swimming more regularly and before I left for SA I was going down daily and I was also swimming almost daily in Cape Town. Something in my eyes have changed, the comments have been overwhelming. Also for the first time I don’t have pain in my body, especially my left hip!

This is powerful to me!

I am doing my best to continue swimming through winter but it has been a little impossible, the storms at sea have been massive. Let us not forget these sea storms aid in the 100 foot waves in Nazare… it’s been a little crazy this side and my tidal pools have been taking a beating. Also it’s been bitterly cold, definitely colder than last year this time and with me not being well, I haven’t wanted to risk it.

However, on the 1st January, all the local folks start the year off going for a swim in the sea. So come rain or shine a whole group of us will be going in. Praying for shine!

No better way to start the year…

I am surrounded by the most beautiful coastline and ocean and I am obsessed.

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea”.

- Karen Blixen

Building community...

This takes time…

From all my years of moving around as a kid and the few times I moved as an adult, one thing I know is, you can’t rush connection. It takes time to find and build community. As humans, we are creatures of habit and we have very distinctive patterns of behavior and it takes time to build routine with consistent rhythms with your local go-to’s to start feeling part of the landscape.

I know for me, this is so important and I really need it to feel that I have a real sense of belonging. It took me years to cultivate this in Cape Town. Our community knew me and my girls well as we moved and flowed together in and around our home, school and life. It meant the world to me and it made it home.

It has taken me a whole year to start building a patterned routine here that seems to flow, it was in place before I left for SA and it’s now back in place.

I’m really loving my beautiful new patterns of behaviour.

I have started bumping into people I know in town, meeting up with friends for walks, swims and coffee and these little things and moments make life worth living.

The other night our girlfriend group got together for our early Christmas dinner before folks start peeling off for the holidays and we had the most precious time together. To be surrounded by such quality woman is a gift, all so beautiful, kind, mature and gorgeously funny. I am so thankful to find myself surrounded by this incredible love, all sincerely routing for each other.

I’ve spent this year cultivating new friendships, slowly and with purpose. Thank you for the incredible year we have walked together and I’m grateful for so many beautiful moments. Of course, to my beautiful sister and Miss KitKat who have walked beside me every step of the way.

Thank you darlings - love you! xxx

Linda África do Sul…

When I left Cape Town in September last year, I left under a dark cloud of sadness. I climbed on my plane, not glancing back and very much determined to keep facing forward. It was a cognitive choice for my wellbeing to leave Cape Town but it was still a tough call. Leaving my beautiful girl behind holds a deep pain point for me. Even now, it’s the thing I struggle with the most. I’m still not sure how to navigate each day without her by my side.

We are so utterly beautiful together.

I know I am blessed to have such incredible relationships with both my girls. It has not been without it’s challenges and exceptionally hard work but it has been intentional work and their closeness to me is my whole heart!

So returning to Cape Town wasn’t without some anxiety, also I had just finally got my routine back into flow state. The thought of returning to my place of sadness was a little daunting. Ultimately, I was there to see my girl and I was arriving with a specific agenda. I had to stay focussed. I won’t lie, some days I felt the sadness chase me down and I had to keep moving. Dalebrook Tidal Pool was close enough for me to pop down to almost daily, to down regulate my nervous system and it did not disappoint. Swimming with Corksi again was a gift, we used to swim together often and it reminded me how long I’ve been cold water sea swimming for, almost 5 years now and at last, I am reaping the beautiful gifts of this practice.

I love how similar the Cape Town Tidal pools are to the ones I’ve been exploring here in Portugal. There are actually a lot of similarities between both these worlds. The distance between Dalebrook Tidal Pool in KalkBay (South Atlantic) and Piscina Oceânica Alberto Romano Tidal Pool in Cascais (North Atlantic) is around 12000kms. Both spaces hold my heart for different reasons and I felt so spoilt to have been able to swim in both pools in one week.

I also came to close out my storage unit and sell the last of our furniture and belongings and sort out the last of the boxes, also sorting out telephone contracts, banking admin and old policies. I gave myself a year to close things out and I was right on target. Everything got wrapped up quickly as I cut the last threads tying me to my past.

Cape Town is magnificent in summer and I arrived as it started. We rose early everyday not to waste a single moment together. I was also working during this time which meant I got to be onset while they were filming our latest commercial and also be in the production office the whole time.

I did my best to slot into Courteney and Marc’s life and not disturb their schedules too much. Courteney gave me full access to her car for the duration of my visit and I squeezed in what I could… yoga, tai chi and seeing some of my dearest friends and family. I managed to do some dry needling with my amazing physio, I miss her terribly and got two face to face sessions with my therapist. I am so grateful for everything I got to squeeze in but most of all, every moment I got with my girl!

All in all my time in Cape Town - pure magic.

Thank you to all of you who made time for me to swoop in and steal moments!

On my first day back in the forest, we were greeted by this incredible bird of prey. This is a magical and rare treat. If you know me and my love for birds of prey, this was a good omen.

Thank you my beautiful girl for our precious time together, every moment tucked away until we can be together again. I miss you every moment of everyday.

True love first kiss - always and forever.

Linda África do Sul… part 2

Goodbye Cape Town, hello Johannesburg.

I got a few days on the farm before I ventured back home. Seeing my family of origin was everything to me. I love being on the farm which is always in motion… new babies, milking goats, cheese and yoghurt to be made and so much more. It’s early starts because the milk machines switch on at 4am. My parent’s are not only remarkable farmers but also the most outstanding cheese makers and I have missed having quality product so freely available to me. Quality cheese everywhere the eye can see and I got to play in the cheese aging fridge getting to sample gorgeous 9 month old pieces of heaven.

I also managed to do some yoga under the trees with my brother and niece and hung out quite a bit with my little nephew. The farm is a resort style farm surrounded by wattle plantations and forests.

It’s a little piece of heaven.

I was really excited and ready to get home and although I got flu after my return, which isn’t surprising with travel these days but it did knock me left of centre. Happy to say my structure and routine is back up and running and it means everything to me, I need it. I am a huge believer in active recovery, so I have managed to get back to my very strong walking regime, some tai chi and I am slowly heading back into my art practice too.

Dare I say out loud, we are excited for the holidays and we have a few special days planned and it will be the first time in 4 years we will be celebrating a proper Christmas. It just feels right and gentle and rather lovely, actually!

Thank you to all who made this trip so magical for me. I can’t thank you enough! I have returned home in a different headspace, feeling lighter and more resolved and ready for the new season and I’m excited for the new year ahead! So much love always, from my heart to yours. xxx

Happy Anniversary to me....

During my Camino I celebrated my 1 year anniversary of being in Portugal. Hard to fathom how fast it’s all gone. As you can appreciate, it has been a big year in finding my feet and finding my routine. I feel like since I’ve come back from the Camino, I have found more of a flow and there have been some really big shiftings in me since I got home. Somatically, I feel different and I can’t explain why but whatever the reason is, there has been a little more ease and heaps more joy. Which I am so grateful for.

I think I’m starting to build a bit of a community and some routines around that. It’s helped me settle more into my space and body. I always say, when you start bumping into people you know, then you are starting to feel more at home.

I have been making the most of the last days of summer…. here are some glimpses.

Things still continue to come up for me in all things healing and I am still working very hard to stay grounded and rooted in everything I do and stay fully engaged and present. I am still committed to doing the work and I’m so grateful that I still have so much love and support around me.

Thank you, thank you!

I’m still walking a lot and this continues to remain a constant for me. I am also going down almost daily for my cold water swims…. this has been like magic for my soul. The past few weeks I have been working with my Tai Chi - Swimming Dragon Sensei and learning the sequence from top to bottom. There has been a shift in my form and practice and again moving into flow state with this practice. I will continue working with him for the next course and I’m determined to learn the sequence by heart. I have slowed down with my yoga considerably through summer but upped this practice to almost daily. All these beautiful practices have been such a gift to me and how beautiful to have access to so much goodness.

So from my heart to yours, always. Much love and gratitude.

Here is my July to October playlist which has been one of my favorites for this year so far and it is making my heart so happy!

I hope you enjoy it too - don’t forget to put it on shuffle.

Thank you from the bottom of heart...

I can’t thank you enough for the love and support during the Quirk Auction.

Thank you for always showing up with me… before, during and after. It means more to me than you know, even after my long absence. I’m hoping I won’t need to have time away from my studio for sometime.

The shipping… always the shipping. Its never without heaps of grace.

I thought my shipping challenges were over after I left Cape Town but here I am once again relearning. This time has been quite something and navigating this in a foreign language has required patience and humility as I allowed people to help guide me. A massive learning curve for me and I’m so grateful for all the help. truly, THANK YOU!

All in all my gratitude and love is overflowing… so from my heart to yours, always

Jeanne-Marie xxx

Next May… come clay with me!

Come join me in this scared place next May.

We will be building clay sculptures slowly by hand. Together we will explore and absorb this incredible place and incorporate what we find into our works!

Orvieto first stole my heart in 2012 and she still continues to haunt me to this day… always quietly calling me to come back to create with her! It’s pure alchemy for me and I always go home fully connected and engaged with my creative tank full! From creating in the Monastery, quiet early morning walks while the mist hangs low, to the unbelievable history… it’s deeply beautiful in every way.

Orvieto is an artisan hilltop town. It is also the headquarters for the Slow movement, a movement very close to my heart. To have a whole town’s focus being intentionally centred around making things slowly, by hand, is a rare find in this loud, fast-paced world that we find ourselves in! Creating in this collective slow energy is contagious.

Please come join me and our intimate group, working gently and mindfully together in the peaceful rhythms of this sacred town and Monastery.

Much love, always, Jeanne-Marie

Guys.... I walked to Spain

As you know, I just finished my first Camino!

Honestly, one of the most exquisite experiences of my life. Of course, not without challenges but on the most part, it was utterly perfect!

We walked from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, just under 300kms. We had one off day midway but no surprise, we toured and walked so much, it was the same as all our other days. To see a country by foot is next level beautiful. You get to see so much more this way and what blew me away is how much our legs can take. All said and done, I know this… it’s not about your legs… they just get stronger and stronger.

It all comes down to your feet and providing special care for them all the way, is imperative.

I have my eye on a few more epic journeys.

This beautiful pilgrim came at the right time and there have been huge shiftings in me since I got back too but I will share more with you as soon as I can get this administrative week behind me.

Once again, thank you to all those who journeyed with me everyday and even more so to those who were with me for every beautiful footfall. You were in my heart and mind, front and centre.

To my walking buddy, wow, what memories. Thanks Friend!

The Lotus Keeper....

She’s finally finished and I love her.

She measures around 14” x 10” on stretched canvas and she’s ready to hang and ready to go out into the world. She took me on a journey and made me work hard for her presence, even though this is the case, I am always grateful for every lesson I learn with these pieces that challenge me.

She has an incredibly quiet and regal presence about her and working in that energy and space felt a little sacred to me. A little reminder that not all have instant or immediate access to the inner landscapes of our minds and souls. It might take presence, reciprocity and mutual regard to be allowed on the inside. The inner sanctum is sacred ground and to be honored with respect.

©JeanneMarieArt 2025 - SOLD

I adore the quiet spaces around her and her muted tones. My color palette this season was chosen with intention with a special focus around Venetian Rose. More about my intentions around this body of work closer to exhibition day.

Much love from my heart to yours, Jm xxx

The Saint of the Quiet Magnolia...

… who carries dignity and strength on her back.

Two years ago I attempted to make a Santos Doll in a very traditional way on the cage / stand. I really loved her and although I learnt so much, some aspects of her were problematic. The wire I used to make moveable hands and arms were not the correct. The concept was great but the wire was not. It was an important lesson. I reworked her and I still wasn’t happy with her so she sat in my studio for two years. She eventually crossed the oceans and travelled to Portugal by ship and sadly or fortuitously, she got damaged on her voyage.

I cut away her cage / stand and reworked her hands and one arm. I re-sculptured aspects of her that I wasn’t happy with and kept all the elements that I adored about her and then repainted her.

I am utterly smitten with her unique and special presence.

©JeanneMarieArt 2025

SOLD

I love that I finished her story here, in Portugal because Santos Dolls originate from Portugal and Spain as far back as the middle ages. They were originally created from wood, clay or ivory and were made and placed on home alters especially for families who didn’t have access to church. Santos meaning Saint, represented the Saints, Mary or Christ and became spiritual companions to people and households. They are sacred dolls. They were traditionally created with quiet, slightly elongated and neutral faces so that they could represent the saint you needed them to be.

I knew I wanted her to represent a quiet peace and strength, I wanted her color to be light and I also knew I wanted to include a magnolia on her back both the color and flower representing purity and sacredness. The Magnolia evolved up onto her head. Magnolia’s represent noble feminine strength and this combined with her crown seem so perfect. Her crown is a piece from an antique tea strainer I had available from a previous project.

Thank you for the messages of love coming in for her.

The Secret Keepers and Silent Witnesses...

The Harvester of Tea and Truth…

I am hoping to have three of these special souls in the Quirk show.

For the past few years I’ve been collecting antique tea strainers on my road trips in and around South Africa and people have sent me some as they knew I was collecting. I found some pretty special ones too and they make the perfect frames and holders for these little Guardians.

It has been a delightful project.

©JeanneMarieArt 2025 - SOLD

It’s a project and concept I started playing with a while back around the saying… “Spill the tea or T” … meaning share your personal Truth, secrets, or what’s really going on. Then more recently used to mean share the gossip or story. I wanted to use the tea strainer metaphorically… as the vessel that catches the tea leaves (story) and allows the liquid to flow through and catches what must not flow over. In essence, the gatekeeper, deciding what passes through and what remains hidden. Inserting a clay soul into the strainer personifies the tea strainer to that of a Guardian… A Guardian of the Truth.

The Harvesters of Tea and Truth… the collectors of untold stories (they gather but don’t betray). The silent witnesses of truth (they listen without judgement).

It’s clear their role is sacred and important.

Holding my whole heart…

This special wand / talisman appeared on my studio desk this week.

It’s the second piece I’ve made like this. The first one was using a piece of driftwood and this one, I created around one of my baby seal bones from the delicate remains I found on the rocks in Hermanus, Cape Town a few years back. I love honoring these bones this way… repurposing them and giving them new life.

She is a perfect representation of the work I’ll be teaching and sharing in Orvieto in May next year with my hand building sculpture class… combining organic elements like bone, wood, shells, leather, quills and feathers.

I will be teaching a variety of different projects and this will be one of them.

I hope you will consider joining me.

SOLD ©JeanneMarieArt 2025

She was a joy to make from beginning to end and sometimes pieces just flow so elegantly and she was one of them. She is wonderful to hold and has a slightly weighted feel to her. I love that she can stand propped up on her quills.

I am always amazed at the level of vulnerability and tenderness these pieces can evoke and the beautiful lessons I learn from each one. She is made up of organic elements from all over - quills from my folks farm, a seagull feather from my new beach here in Portugal, a seal bone from Hermanus, a leather string from Cape Town and clay from my hands and heart, to yours!

DATES:

may 10th - 16th 2026

Sweet Magnolia

She is finally finished!

Sweet Magnolia is a mixed media fibre art piece.

A miniature acrylic painting on a 2.5” x 2.5” Rooibos Teabag preserved from my 2016 exhibition and body of works, completely incapsulated with a thousand tiny threads and incorporated onto a piece of cotton fabric.

Painting with threads is so calming and therapeutic and a beautiful reminder for me to return to this practice. It has been around six years since I released my threading class and I had forgotten how soothing it is to do this work.

Please let me know if you would like more details about my showing day on the Quirk show where she will be showcased. So looking forward to this online exhibition.

©JeanneMarieArt 2025 - SOLD

My Painting with Threads class is still available if you want to join in with this mindful practice and nervous system calming technique.

Quirk Online show...

my day : 28th/29th september

Its been around 2 years since I put a full body of works together for an Auction / online Exhibition.

I have forgotten how much work it is, administratively and creatively but I do love it very much. I am a little deadline driven and I am working maxed out, day in and day out to make my deadline. I won’t lie though, it makes me extremely happy. For me, these seasons of intensity in my studio, means I quietly move into flow state and this is a complete place to work from. Every now and again flow state comes around and when it does, it’s a beautiful gift and it’s precious to me.

The way life has been the past few years, flow state has been elusive but I’m glad to find myself showing up and experiencing this in small ways again. I’m hoping that it will continue and continue to mature into my next season and body of works.

©JeanneMarieArt 2025

Some of the pieces I have been working on and hoping to finish in the next few days. Some of them have been a joy and flowed and others have been harder but all in all, time in the seat is always rewarding. In between the long studio hours, I’m trying to walk as much as I can and get some movement in and keep healthy.

©JeanneMarieArt 2025 - Works in progress

I’ll be sharing more as I get closer to showing day and thank you for the love and support already. Please drop me a note if you would like to be added to the FB group / receive an invite.

More soon…

Where the Moth Waits...

From the moment I started this piece, we were fully connected and it was love all the way. She was waking me up early most mornings, calling me to come finish her and I stayed up late with her most nights until her story was complete. I love working this way.

I love all the beautiful symbolism of the Moth, there are so many. Most of all, I love where she is waiting, right on her heart-space with her feelers reaching up to her throat. This is profoundly significant to me and for me.

When I have anxiety, I feel it all in my chest, reaching up to my throat, always in this region and its oppressive and tight. Oddly enough, the new season I’m in, with my nervous system relaxing, there are moments of joy and dare I say, real happiness, that I find the feeling in the same area and it’s expansive and spacious. This has been so interesting to me… the complexity and duality that my heart space and throat being able to hold both these conflicting emotions and responses in the exact same place.

I love that the beautiful Moth is waiting right here… from throat, heart-space all the way down to her solar plexus.

SOLD ©JeanneMarieArt 2025 - 13”×18” Collage Mixed Media Acrylic Painting on an old book cover

When I started this piece it was with half the moth only on the right side of her heart space and I started entertaining the idea of it being on the other side too. I felt it would have been super busy and as you know, I do love quiet spaces. I knew if I brought the wing across, I would have to remove some of the flowers which I did and it worked well. I also wanted the wing on the left side to match and be almost identical and that worked well too.

As you know, she will be available in my next showing, please message me if you would like to tagged for her availability. Closer to the time we will be sharing more actively on FB for tagging.

Thank you so much for the love pouring in about her, it has been so beautifully delightful to know you have loved her as much as I have. From my heart to yours, always, Jm.

I walked to Lisbon...

My friend shared with me recently that she had walked to Lisbon Cathedral before her Camino, for training and to get her Camino passport. I decided to walk in her footprints… what an epic journey and I loved every step of the way.

It was a tough day out though because it was so hot. I had good intentions to leave at 6am but only left at 7am, which meant I arrived in the heat of the day and it was hot as hell.

I survived.

It was still early by Portugal standards and I love being out when it’s so beautifully quiet. The only thing to remember is that WC’s only open at 9/10am in Portugal, so it’s advisable not to have a big cup of coffee before you leave. Due to me leaving a bit later, I had to put the hammer down all the way to Belem to try make up distance in the cooler part of the day. I did take some time out, to photograph my journey though. It was so beautiful. I am doing this route often by train or car but I saw so much more on foot and I loved it. It is absolutely worth the effort. I can highly recommend.

After a little refuel at Pateis de Belem, I stocked up with more cold water and kept trekking. I left Belem at around 12pm and it was scorching hot. As I was mapping out the last part of my route, I discovered that the Cathedral is closed on Sundays. Oopsy, it hadn’t occurred to me to check this fact, it’s a Catholic church in Europe after all, one would assume it’s open on a Sunday. I had to keep going even though I was a bit gutted. I wasn’t going to get my passport but I was going to get my kms and training done.

When I got to to Honest Greens close to the Cais de Sodre station, arguably I could have headed home due to the fact that the Cathedral wasn’t open but I was determined to get there. It was a mental game for me now, the last 2-4km’s were killer. I had my dear friend Sonia (who just did the Camino), my Mom and Corksi talking me to my imaginary finish line. It was so hot and I was struggling with the crowds and heat at the end so the virtual company was so welcome. When I got to the end I sat on the steps by the closed doors for a while to try and compose myself.

Walking to Lisbon Cathedral - 24.5km

Guys, I walked to Lisbon from my apartment. Someone pinch me please.

I now feel good about my pilgrimage that’s coming up and we are going to be okay. We only have one 25km day on our journey… our last day to Santiago Compostela. The other days are more around 20kms. I’ve broken in my new shoes and my new day pack and I’m happy with everything. We have sorted out our route to and from Porto and Spain. Now we focus on keeping healthy and keeping our mileage up.

Counting down the days…

Hello August...

How gorgeous to have summer in August, this is new for me. Now that summer is in full swing, I’m enjoying it so much. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Winter months but I did have a year long stint this past year, which was a bit much. It’s lovely to have some natural vitamin D and wearing all things sleeveless and of course, to be fully immersed in the ocean again. This has me smiling from ear to ear.

I’m not sure where July went but wow that went fast.

My yoga slowed quite a bit this month but I quietly did an online Yoga Synergy, course with Jim, my old yoga teacher from Cape Town. I haven’t done Synergy for a while but it’s a long slow practice so it was nice to be back with this set routine. I didn’t do any Swimming Dragon, Tai Chi this month because my Sensei had surgery and is recovering. I was generally a bit out of sync with some of my local yoga classes too, so here is hoping August will be a little more consistent.

I did however walk a huge amount this month in preparation for my Camino and did a long hot hike last Sunday. One of my longest days walking here in Portugal, we covered close to 25km and my goodness, it was hot. You know me and the heat… I suffer.

I also had my dear friend over from Aveiro for a few days and spent a few days in the Algarve with one of my best friends and her family. These two visits were like medicine for my soul. I am so grateful for these moments. I am also back to my cold water swims and that ramped up in a big way this month. I find the water here pretty mild generally, except this last week, it’s been Cape Town cold. Bearing in mind the chill in Cape Town is due to it being South Atlantic waters. So my last two swims felt like I was back in my old tidal pool back home but I can’t tell you how happy I am to be back to this exquisite practice.

The ocean does something to me… I am healing.

My days are generally quiet and peaceful. I wake early each day and watch the sun rise over Lisbon. I have that gorgeous orange glow every morning. My big windows are wide open and a cool breeze flows in as I brew my coffee. The swallows swoop high and low around my window and greet me each day. I see my church and hear the bells in the distance, little reminders that I live in Europe. I am so grateful for these small gifts each day.

I then head to my writing desk to do my morning pages or my yoga mat for early morning practice.

This couldn’t sum me up more accurately in this season.

I hope I never lose these parts of me…

~

Okay August… let’s go quietly ahead together, we have lots of work to do.

xxx

Three of my favorite songs from July.