Monthly Archives: December 2023

Memories of 2023

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My initial plan was to pick one photo to highlight my favourite memory of each other month. I struggled to pick just one a couple of times so here simply are my favourite memories of 2023

Happy New Year Everyone 🥳 🥳 🥳

January

Gortin Glen Forest Park in the snow. Summiting Mullaghcarn and meeting Darach the Giant.

February

A bushcraft wild camp under a tarp in Monellan Forest. Thoroughly enjoyed sleeping so open and wakening to the birds in the trees.

March

Our baby turned 15 and somehow managed to turn into a young man this year!

April

Catriona and myself had a wonderful 4 days in Paris as my early birthday present. Both of us enjoyed this trip so much.

May

My busiest month with a hike in the Bluestack Mountains and a long planned summit of Croaghgorm itself.

A trip to the Mourne Mountains for a fantastic meet up with friends I’ve made from YouTube, a hike and a wild camp. I can’t wait for the repeat in 2024.

The month finished off in celebration as Conor won the u16 Cup with Castlefinn Celtic.

June

A hot and turbulent month with lots of thunderstorms that required careful planning for hiking. This was the most impressive.

July

After much anticipation I finally turned 50. It was a relief to finally pass this milestone and we marked it with a fabulous family meal at The Red Door restaurant near Buncrana.

August

Another big trip when the 4 of us went to Manchester in advance of Owen’s 18th Birthday. A home game at the opening of the season versus Wolves. Yet another great family event for all of us.

September

I finally managed to complete my 2023 Challenge to walk The Bluestack Way in a Day. 52km and something I really wasn’t sure I had in me.

October

A rare sunny day in October encouraged me to get moving and on this day I was unable to keep Rosie at home. Despite deteriorating hips she was determined to enjoy a day in Monellan Forest.

November

A visit to Murvagh Beach outside Donegal Town to explore the far end of the beach and Bell’s Isle. I can’t wait to return here for a wild camp in the Spring.

December

A trip to Donegal Town allowed me a chance to revisit The Bluestack Way around Lough Eske were I had the most amazing views over the lough and a fantastic walk through Ardnamona Nature Reserve.

What better way to round off the month and the year than a visit to help my Great Aunt Ruby celebrate her 108th birthday on New Year’s Eve. A phenomenal woman that can still surprise me with stories I’ve never heard ❤️

YouTube: Murvagh Beach & Bell’s Isle

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A few weeks ago I went to Murvagh Beach just outside Donegal Town. The plan was to have a good walk, go beyond our normal turning point and explore an area called Bell’s Isle. I was hoping to find a decent location for a beach wild camp for the Spring/Summer.

I had identified a woodland area from the map and satellite imagery and was hoping to get a space on the edge of the woodland, big enough for a tent and with a decent view of the sea. I was blown away by what I did find and can’t wait to go back with my tent and spend an overnight there.

Check out the video below to see what I found 👇

Greatest Fears

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“What’s your greatest fear?” they ask
We answer right away
But what we’re really scared of
Isn’t what we actually say

‘Cause we’re not scared of flying
But of falling from the sky
And we’re afraid of failing
But we say we’re scared to try

It’s not that we’re afraid to want
But that we’re scared to lose
And we are not afraid to ask
But scared we’ll be refused

We’re not afraid of water
We’re just scared that we could drown
And we avoid the climb
In case we plummet to the ground

We’re not afraid of caves
But of the things that lurk inside
And it is not the dark we fear;
It’s the monsters that it hides

But if we’re scared of trying
Then we’ll never know success
And if we’re scared to hear a ‘no’
We’ll never hear a ‘yes’

If we’re terrified to lose
We’ll likely never win
And if we’re scared of drowning
Then we’ll never learn to swim

So take the deepest breath
And show the monsters you are brave
And maybe you’ll find treasure
In the darkness of the cave

Take the biggest step
And climb the mountain to its peak
Stretch your arms out sideways
And then take the biggest leap

‘Cause, we’re not scared of anything
Except of getting hurt
But life without a little risk
Is not what we deserve

And we can’t miss out on living
‘Cause we’re all too scared to die
For if we’re afraid to fall too hard
We’ll never learn to fly

Becky Hemsley 2023
Stunning artwork by Paco Yao

“Greatest Fears’ is from Letters from Life https://amzn.eu/d/hre52WW

I follow this lady on Facebook and some of her stuff is brilliant. This one hit me today, the last two lines in particular…