It’s been a quiet week for working to recovery, which has meant that Ron has had a whole week on the island, and I visited Fife for 24 hours.
The architect came Monday so we shaped up the plans for our bunk house/training venue. It will have 20 beds, a large training /dining area, kitchen, an office ad editing suite, treatment room for visiting therapists, drying room for wet gear and wetsuits and possibly a sauna. We have missed the next planning meeting so September will be D Day.
The weather has continued to be glorious up here, with no rain, blue sky’s but coldish winds.
Ron has been out in the poly tunnel and we have 20 vigorous tomato plants and the strawberries are fruiting.
He has also built a piglet pen for our new Tamworth female piglet that arrived Friday. Francesca has called her Charlotte so I guess she won’t be going in the freezer.
It is truly wonderful watching the whole family relax up here in our new lifestyle. Frankie wandering around bare foot and care free. Rory cycling to school every day and now managing the hills, Ron proud of a day’s hard labour, and myself watching the croft take shape and our ideas progress.
Ron is of to Angus this afternoon to work with 20 peer worker recruits for a week. Again watching them grow and develop during the week and over the next few months is what keeps us doing this work.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
More photos from Australia 2008
Gone Fishing!
Ron Coleman - A fallen Angel?
Speaking in Australia, Making Recovery Happen
Karens back from Stafford, England, Ron goes to Reggio Emilia, Italy - but what about the new garden?
Last weeks training went well, it is always heartening when staff who are working in very challenging conditions are eager to embrace the recovery process and think of creative ways they can use it in their work.
I left Stafford feeling very encouraged; then the long journey home. One of the negative aspects of moving to the island is an extra flight, but also the last flight is early evening so I have to stay over night in Glasgow then catch the first morning flight at 7am.
Ron meanwhile was flying out from Stornoway on his way to Italy so we met at the airport for half an hour before his flight was called.
He is in Italy most of this week, on Saturday he was at the first Italian national hearing voices meeting, more than 400 people turned out which was amazing. There is so much enthusiasm and good will for our work in Italy, they are embracing both recovery and hearing voices and many of the psychiatrists are very involved in spreading the ideas over there. We have made some excellent friends, the dearest of which are Angelo our translator and Marcello a psychiatrist, who are also using the ideas in their work. Angelo has been recovering for the last few years and at a meeting run by Ron on Monday he announced to the audience that he was now recovered, did not see him self as mentally ill and was ready to embrace a new life with his girlfriend he now see’s himself as a translator and is busy translating fictional books for a publisher. It was very emotional and fantastic as we have been involved in Angelo’s journey for the last 6 years. He is a very intelligent, thoughtful man.
Meanwhile back on the island I have been concentrating on the garden, we have created a walled garden made of turf to protect the vegetables from the wind. I have spent a few back breaking hours digging and now have the potatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, leeks and onions. Today I have bought blackcurrants and gooseberry bushes, and winter greens, cabbage, kale, & sprouts to plant.
The weather is still beautiful, I feel alive, relaxed and I ‘m recovering!
Lol
Karen
I left Stafford feeling very encouraged; then the long journey home. One of the negative aspects of moving to the island is an extra flight, but also the last flight is early evening so I have to stay over night in Glasgow then catch the first morning flight at 7am.
Ron meanwhile was flying out from Stornoway on his way to Italy so we met at the airport for half an hour before his flight was called.
He is in Italy most of this week, on Saturday he was at the first Italian national hearing voices meeting, more than 400 people turned out which was amazing. There is so much enthusiasm and good will for our work in Italy, they are embracing both recovery and hearing voices and many of the psychiatrists are very involved in spreading the ideas over there. We have made some excellent friends, the dearest of which are Angelo our translator and Marcello a psychiatrist, who are also using the ideas in their work. Angelo has been recovering for the last few years and at a meeting run by Ron on Monday he announced to the audience that he was now recovered, did not see him self as mentally ill and was ready to embrace a new life with his girlfriend he now see’s himself as a translator and is busy translating fictional books for a publisher. It was very emotional and fantastic as we have been involved in Angelo’s journey for the last 6 years. He is a very intelligent, thoughtful man.
Meanwhile back on the island I have been concentrating on the garden, we have created a walled garden made of turf to protect the vegetables from the wind. I have spent a few back breaking hours digging and now have the potatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, leeks and onions. Today I have bought blackcurrants and gooseberry bushes, and winter greens, cabbage, kale, & sprouts to plant.
The weather is still beautiful, I feel alive, relaxed and I ‘m recovering!
Lol
Karen
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
I am sitting at Stornoway airport waiting for my plane ...
I am sitting at Stornoway airport waiting for my plane to Glasgow, then on to Birmingham. Its my first training alone off island since we moved and it is Ron’s turn to look after the kids. In fact it’s his first time he will be on island for a whole week.
I am leaving the most glorious weather, blue skies little wind, its warm and beautiful.
Over the weekend we acquired our first animals a cockerel and 3 hens and they straight away produced 3 eggs for us.
The cockerel is still young but just beginning to find his voice. I have just been to choose a black Labrador/collie cross puppy for Rory and Friday we pick up the puppy and 2 baby guinea pigs; both in the hope that we can entice Rory off the computer and his world of Runescape………….
I am sitting in Glasgow airport waiting for my next flight, this is the reality of being a trainer long journeys at the mercy of airport staff each with their own security rules; stuffy hotels and lonely evenings. Most of the time it certainly ain’t glamorous.
Tomorrow I will be working with 20 people who work for Staffordshire and Shropshire forensic services looking at how we can apply recovery with in their services. This is my fourth 3-day workshop with different staff from the same services. We have had some fantastic discussions and I have been heartened by the creative “can do” attitude of the staff.
I am leaving the most glorious weather, blue skies little wind, its warm and beautiful.
Over the weekend we acquired our first animals a cockerel and 3 hens and they straight away produced 3 eggs for us.
The cockerel is still young but just beginning to find his voice. I have just been to choose a black Labrador/collie cross puppy for Rory and Friday we pick up the puppy and 2 baby guinea pigs; both in the hope that we can entice Rory off the computer and his world of Runescape………….
I am sitting in Glasgow airport waiting for my next flight, this is the reality of being a trainer long journeys at the mercy of airport staff each with their own security rules; stuffy hotels and lonely evenings. Most of the time it certainly ain’t glamorous.
Tomorrow I will be working with 20 people who work for Staffordshire and Shropshire forensic services looking at how we can apply recovery with in their services. This is my fourth 3-day workshop with different staff from the same services. We have had some fantastic discussions and I have been heartened by the creative “can do” attitude of the staff.
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