Meet My Neighbours – Arctic Fleinvaer

‘There are eight people living in Fleinvær this winter,’ I was told as I arrived, ‘and that includes you.’ I had assumed anyone living here must be a bit reclusive, but I was wrong! My neighbours have become amazing friends. Let me introduce you to some of them. Are the Artist When I first met […]

Winter in Norway’s Arctic – The Arctic Hideaway

The Arctic Hideaway Tower House at Sunrise with Snow

In Winter 2020 there were eight people living among the 383 scattered islands of Fleinvær Archipelago. I was one of them. Here’s the story of living and working as a Caretaker at The Arctic Hideaway, which was advertised as ‘probably the best job in the world’.   Life on Fleinvær! Fleinvær feels like a raft […]

Slowing life down – a workaway in Austria

Resting on my workaway in Austria

A workaway in AustriaSorry folks, if you’re hoping to read about the usual tales of daring bravery and adventure you have come to expect (pah, who am I trying to kid!), you’re not going to find it in this post. This is all about slowing life down as I ‘workaway’ in Austria. Miles cycled in the […]

Life on the Ranch: Part 4 (The last ride jinx)

If you haven’t read part 1 yet, why not start there? So, it finally happened. I fell off a horse. On my last day of riding. When I’ve been skiing, I, alongside my mates have celebrated ‘backflip Friday’, Friday being the last day of our tour. Having skied (comparatively) safely at the start of the […]

Life on the Ranch – Part 3

Horse Ranch adventure down river

If you haven’t read part 1 yet, why not start there? My eyes are fully adjusted but still, I struggle to see. The shadowy dark outlines of those in front of me only just visible. I can just barely see bushes and shrubs lining the path on either side. The sky is cloudless, pin-pricked and […]

Life on the Ranch – Part 2

Horse Ranch Adventure

If you haven’t read part 1 yet, why not start there?   Life is sloooow here. Calm. Peaceful. Serene. All these words apply. It is a great way of living.   The past few days on the ranch have remained very relaxed. Even now, when there are guests on the ranch, taking them out on […]

Life on the Ranch – Part 1

Horse Ranch paddock

After a short two day delay, I eventually arrived on the ranch yesterday morning. My Workaway host, Alice, picked me up from the city of Buffalo which is around a 40 minute drive, so I was very grateful for that, and on the drive back she took me for breakfast – I hadn’t even arrived […]

The cowboy transformation

 Since camp has finished I’ve been travelling around America for a few days with friends, and am having a great time, but, this Saturday I’ll be leaving them to go work on a horse ranch for a few weeks. So, how did I arrange this work back in England? The secret is…   Workaway.   […]