Embracing Winter
Reading and Resting in West Wales
Last weekend I spent a few wonderful days in West Wales, resting and reading with a small group of brilliant women. The Retreat was run by the amazing Tanya Lynch of Ease Retreats, along with her wing woman Lauren Powell . As I write this I find myself longing for the view from the house across the beach towards the headland. For the ever changing sky which expanded and retreated as the winter weather of rain, cloud, mist and the occasional blue was blown across our path by the coastal winds. I can still hear the waves breaking on the beach through my bedroom window as I lay in bed, enticing me to stillness so I could absorb their rhythm, and then calling me to plunge into their cold therapy.
You may be asking why do you need to go all the way to West Wales to read and rest? Well of course I could have done it at home but would I? In short no, (for a start I don’t have such views from my house in South London). I do of course read at home, if you are a regular reader of my posts you will know that I read A LOT, but not often for any lengthy period of time without interruptions and not in front of a roaring fire, being regularly topped up by cups of tea made by someone else. This was a truly nourishing experience. And as for resting, that’s quite difficult at home with all the demands of family life and a small business. However the biggest barrier to rest is the guilt I feel when taking a moment to myself at home, there is always the to do list, as well as the interruptions and washing. I always feel I should be doing not resting. The retreat completely lifted that mental load. All I had to think about was what book to read, or tune into what my body wanted. Maybe a walk along the costal path Nicola? Or return to the fire and a book? My mind rested as much as my body, to such an extent I am struggling to engage the brain again this week, or maybe that’s just the menopause?!
The particular magic of a reading retreat is the meeting of like-minded bookish people. There is something so special about sharing a love of reading and books. The discussions were wide ranging and wholehearted. Favourite books, authors, genres, as well as what reading means to us and how it has changed our lives. I have come away with so many recommendations for great reads, absolute gold for a book addict like me. I am currently resisting ordering any books from the list as I have a number of preordered books that I had forgotten I had ordered last year turning up quite regularly at the moment. These preordered books feel like gifts, and I have to remind myself that they werent free. The tbr pile is growing and the growth may become exponential if I don’t rein myself in a little.
Inspiration was also to be found during the two author interviews that took place on zoom during the weekend. As part of the retreat package we were gifted two books one in advance of the retreat, ‘The Surf House’ by Lucy Clarke. And one in the generous goody bag that was waiting in our rooms on arrival, ‘Truth Like Water’ by Carys Shannon. I had read The Surf House in advance of the retreat, a destination thriller set on the Moroccan coast. A transporting read that had you guessing until the end. Lucy was generous with her writing advice, sharing her process, including a fabulous mood board.
Carys was equally generous sharing her experience as a debut novelist of getting published and her inspiration found in her home country of Wales. I read Truth Like Water whilst on the retreat, it seemed the right thing to do to immerse myself in the book whilst on the Welsh coast. Truth like Water is dark mystery set in a close Welsh community full of secrets. It is beautifully written, with characters you feel you might know, and a plot that builds, creeping up on you so that you are frantically turning the pages by the end to see how it plays out.
I thought I might write whilst I was on the retreat, but I didn’t. However this isn’t a regret I felt the weekend worked its magic and allowed my mind as well as my body to rest. The inspiration provided by the authors, the books and the place, will definitely improve my writing now I am home. The only writing I did do was during the guided journalling sessions facilitated by Tanya. These sessions are optional but provided the space to download my busy mind and therefore added to my sense of peace and relaxation. Sharing the journalling experience also deepened the connection between myself and the other guests, and led to more wonderful discussions.
In short, sixty hours on the beautiful Welsh coast with likeminded women, has left me inspired, nourished and with a profound sense of who I am as a reader and writer. It was the perfect way to embrace these winter days rather than rally against them. Now I am home I am going to try and hold onto the feelings of ease, and at the same time use the inspiration to kick on with the writing.
Thank you for this peek into your reading retreat! It sounds so dreamy!
Sounds wonderful and to be with a group of readers who truly appreciate books must be amazing