![Ultra Hike no.6](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1725460468226-25RA45XFUMVT3DMJD0AD/IMG_20240803_114313.jpg)
Ultra Hike no.6
If you were chatting to me pre-Ultra no.6 you’d probably have heard me refer to it as “just 50km”…
It never occurred to me that after completing 100km on Ultra no.5 that I would fail to achieve a 50km. But on the day it just wasn’t meant to be.
![The Bizarre Aftermath of Ultra Hike no. 5](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1721924122759-L7A0RJNAMIEXYPM87BY6/IMG-20240707-WA0019.jpg)
The Bizarre Aftermath of Ultra Hike no. 5
Discussing the weird emotions that following the completion of my 5th Ultra Challenge
![Hike Update After Ultra 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1720002043423-6ZE9XMDM3F9ELYFZYQUB/IMG-20240609-WA0001.jpg)
Hike Update After Ultra 4
I’m planning a few posts to talk about different aspects of the hikes - todays post will largely discuss the Lake District hike, with some comparisons to the others.
![Ultra Hike no.2 - An emotional post](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1712607951667-VK1KZMBO3GLKIMNWK777/Small+1.jpg)
Ultra Hike no.2 - An emotional post
I’ve just gotten home after Ultra Hike no.2 - a 50km hike round Windsor - and I’m feeling very conflicted about it all.
![Meeting Our Local MP](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1712179317018-P2G8N74EBS87G4YPZR83/IMG_20240403_173339.jpg)
Meeting Our Local MP
This week, the wonderful setting Manager, Jo, and I met with our local MP, Duncan Baker, to discuss some of the pressing issues facing the Early Years sector today.
![Don’t Villainise the Early Years!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1711208652292-7IIM1P5X0OLF5RRIAUTH/15.jpg)
Don’t Villainise the Early Years!
Last week The Guardian published this article which is titled “Revealed: the bumper profits taken by English private nursery chains” and I’m angry about it!
![My First Ultra Hike](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1709204398910-R0MEAV34GY89JGWKFZOX/Untitled+design-17.png)
My First Ultra Hike
A month has passed since completing Ultra Hike no.1 and it’s time to catch up on what happened.
![Night Hike and Cake Events](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1709030451384-ZH4AEPOK9MT42NQUCNZ3/Night+Hike+and+Cake.png)
Night Hike and Cake Events
Join me for a night hike and some delicious cake!
![Book Review: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1704713434068-XFFF30R4YIB5C8DQSD2H/Book+Review-3.png)
Book Review: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
Dark Matter is a ghost story set in the 1930s and involves a group of gentlemen who travel to the arctic on an expedition. We follow our protagonist Jack, who through various misfortunes ends up on his own, attempting to complete the expedition for his team.
![Training Update: Beginner Running](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1705355228921-11WFJ4XVDC3HDT53R3UW/Training+Update-2.png)
Training Update: Beginner Running
This post is going to be a little history of how I’ve gotten in to running over the past 4 months. I feel like I can now call myself a runner and I never thought that would ever come out of my mouth!
![Book Review: The Voids by Ryan O’Connor](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1704713129264-R81A6HPKVYYFVWTD7FU6/Book+Review-2.png)
Book Review: The Voids by Ryan O’Connor
Honestly I thought this was written by the author of Just By Looking At Him, a book that’s been recommended to me but I haven’t yet read, but it turns out that author is Ryan O’Connell…
Despite that, this is a brilliant book and one that I knew nothing about so it was a nice surprise.
![Training Update: Gearing Up For Ultra #1](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1704712732554-E5MXLBUZHZCCRRH0WE5Y/Training+Update.png)
Training Update: Gearing Up For Ultra #1
Happy New Year! It’s time for me to get ready for my first Ultra Hike on the 27th January!
![Book Review: Voyeur by Francesca Reece](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1704383228235-QHNOWNW8W5JGAVWIQFZU/Book+Review.png)
Book Review: Voyeur by Francesca Reece
I think this a misunderstood book!
I’ve been looking at other reviews of this book on various blogs across the W.W.W and largely they are blasé about the story or in some cases pretty scathing about it. But I’m here to say that I think they're all wrong!
![Ofsted Pause Proving How Undervalued The Early Years Sector Is](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1704363924938-ZM46O85P53UL9KW7PM2Q/Untitled+design-13.png)
Ofsted Pause Proving How Undervalued The Early Years Sector Is
The information coming out about the Ofsted pause in inspections is sickening to me as someone who works with an Early Years setting.
![Long Distance Walking In An Age Of Distraction](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1701552260380-0DWEONNGK4OH4K3YI6DK/Long+Distance+walking+in+an+age+of+distraction.png)
Long Distance Walking In An Age Of Distraction
After I finished my 4th training hike, a walk of 12km, I captured my thoughts on the fact that what I had just completed was a measly 1/8 of the total distance I would be travelling for the full challenges.
![Fundraising and Ultra Challenges](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1699630081127-CJ1Q0CL815ZJS1T3XOIB/Untitled+design-12.png)
Fundraising and Ultra Challenges
I’m taking on a new challenge for 2024. I’m attempting to raise £7,000 and tackle 7 Ultra Challenges between now and September. Read on to find out what and why …
![Be Kind To Yourself](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1693659423936-EV2R2QDAPCOSFQPVBZOB/9.jpg)
Be Kind To Yourself
I’ve had this idea for a blog post about treating yourself with kindness and talking to yourself as if you were a friend, it’s been sat as a title only in my drafts for a few weeks. And then I entered yet another moment of high stress and suddenly this post and the self-reflection behind it has become even more poignant.
![TBR Spin August: A Reading Game](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1693253638628-CH0BQNEFVUQ904G7LVCB/processed_IMG_20230828_204727-01.jpeg)
TBR Spin August: A Reading Game
TBR Spin is a reading game that has been taking place throughout 2023, you can join in at any time but I’ve been playing since it began in January.
Creative Writing Update
I mentioned in my return to blogging that I wanted to make more time for creative writing. I’ve already started to do that and I wanted to bring you along on the journey with me.
![New Product Launch!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f5c70f42f3b612d162da2a/1692479260638-2DIZYORB695I9PCHN2T5/new+product+launch.png)
New Product Launch!
After much encouragement, I have decided to launch a range of greetings cards with my prints on them!