Braving the Spring Westerly's

We have just returned from a five day break in Filey Bay.  The westerly's were blowing off the cliff tops, blowing away the cobwebs in our heads and the sun was shining.  We had five days with nothing to do but collect pebbles, walk, read and spend quality time together.
 

The view from our cabin was inspiring. The colours, so uplifting.  Blue skies with puffy white clouds and greens, blues and sandy seas so calming.  When the wind dropped, we walked on the cliffs towards Bempton with seagulls dancing in the thermals above us.  It was cold for the time of year but no rain for four days, so who can complain?  The masses of Gorse bushes had blossomed and the almond scent was intoxicating as we wound our way around them.

The following day the wind returned so we ventured from the cliff tops down some woodland steps to Cayton Bay.  Five steps down it was still.  We could hear the wind above us blowing overhead but we were down in our little micro climate descending into a magical wood with wild pink and deep yellow primroses everywhere.  It was so peaceful.   Not another soul did we pass.  We could hear the ocean grow louder as we followed the winding path through the undergrowth.  Then out of the bushes, there was the bay.  A huge expanse of smooth yellow sand fringed with coloured pebbles and shells.  I collected small pieces of drift wood and clambered over the rocks at the crescent of the bay to discover rich amber cliffs of stone holding back the sea.  I found a small giant’s causeway to step across to take me back to the sands.

Being with nature and having the time to spend exploring and discovering new places together makes me realise just how blessed I am. The world is a wonderful place if only we take the time out to see it.

For one to one Skype coaching sessions contact Susan on susan@susanloveday.com or visit www.susanloveday.com for more information.

Eating with the Seasons - April

As the flavours of foods seem sadly lacking in my supermarket trolley, I have recently been drawn more and more to my local farm shops.  The misshapen cabbages and suede’s are full of flavour and takes me back to my farming roots.

Seasonal food is fresher and therefore tastier and more nutritious. If you want to enjoy food at its best, every bite bursting with flavour, there's no doubt eating seasonally is the way to go.

Eating more local seasonal food makes sense.  It costs less, as it has less distance to travel, which in turn reduces energy costs and the associated CO2 emissions.  It also supports the local economy, but most of all it helps us to reconnect with nature’s cycles and the passing of time.

Among the UK foods at their best in April are:

Vegetables: broccoli (purple sprouting), cabbages, cauliflower, spring greens, lettuce, radishes, sea kale, sorrel, watercress.

Fruit: rhubarb.

Wild greens and herbs: alexanders, chickweed, chives, wild chervil, dandelions, fat hen, hogweed shoots, hop shoots, meadowsweet, nettles, sea kale, sea spinach, sorrel, watercress, wild garlic, wild rocket.

Fungi and nuts: morels, St George's mushrooms.

Fish and shellfish: cockles, crab, pollack, salmon, sea trout.

Game: wood pigeon.

Meat: spring lamb, rabbit.

Poultry: chicken.

At this time of year, free-range eggs also taste better.  As the hours of daylight lengthen, hens naturally start laying again.  As the earth begins to warm new shoots appear and insects emerge, the chickens forage and enjoy their new diverse natural diet giving their eggs a particularly good flavour.  The beta carotene in the new grass gives the yolks that lovely deep golden colour.  And this of course gives the bird itself more flavour.

Whenever a particular UK-produced food goes out of season, you can guarantee that another delicious one has come back into season to tempt us all. Ultimately, eating seasonal food is about enjoyment.  By being aware of when foods are at their best can help us enjoy eating a naturally better quality diet.

Having a good healthy well balanced diet is one of the finest things we can do for our emotional and physical health and wellbeing.

There are some great recipes for this month’s seasonal foods.  Take a look at the following sites for ideas and move away from that winter stodge Delicious Magazine.   The BBC site has a good seasonal recipe section on bbc.co.uk  so be inspired, add some new ingredients to your shopping list and bring fresh excitement to your spring cooking.

Where ever you live in this world of ours, it’s worth finding out about which seasonal foods are on offer in your locality.

For one to one Skype coaching sessions contact Susan on susan@susanloveday.com or visit www.susanloveday.com for more information.

Personal Growth and Tree Rings

With every season that passes the trees rings grow larger.  The tree’s biggest spurt of growth comes in the spring when it rehydrates, drawing moisture and nutrients through its softer outer tissues, to allow the buds to burst into leaf and its branches to expand.

Each season as the tree grows in height the dark dense hard centre core grows stronger to carry the new weight and withstand the weather.

At whatever age we are, humankind has a compulsion to learn and grow.  We need to stretch ourselves to feel fulfilled as we go through the different stages of our lives.  Often this means moving outside our comfort zones.

Trying new things and new ways of doing things can be scary.  Have you ever tried something new and really frightened yourself into feeling that you will never, ever put yourself through that again?  Most of us have.  You most likely took a huge leap into the unknown pushing yourself way outside your comfort zone and it made you feel so bad you vowed never to try it again.

If we try to change a little at a time, each time going out of our comfort zone by the same small amount then eventually that new place becomes the place that we are comfortable in.  Our comfort zone has expanded and we have grown gradually like the ring of the tree.

Because of our compelling need to see rapid results, we expect too much of ourselves too soon.

If we try to change and grow a little at a time, we become more confident as we widen our circle, enabling us to have a richer fuller life.

Spring encourages new growth but taking it slow and steady is the way.  Small steps done on a regular basis always brings great results.

To build and strengthen our inner core, to withstand the trials and challenges of life, is why personal growth is vital to us all.

For one to one Skype coaching sessions contact Susan on susan@susanloveday.com or visit www.susanloveday.com for more information.