If Anne Can

If Anne Can

A Midlife Wanderer Comes Home

Welcome to If Anne Can, a podcast where a midlife woman searches for the answer to the age-old question of what it means to live a meaningful life and create a sense of home. 

I’m speaking to writers, poets, entrepreneurs, community contributors and activists because I’m curious to discover their story and share it with you. These stories remind us that there are many possibilities, from walking into icy lakes to making something beautiful for the whole community to share. Along the way, I'll also share some adventures of my own. 

Join me every Friday and let a new voice inspire you. After all, If Anne Can……. 

 Please drop me a line if you have any feedback or questions. My email address is [email protected]
I can't wait to share these adventures with you! 

Building Courage: Angela Bentley; Ice Warrior

Why are people evangelical about the Wim Hof practice of breath work and embracing ice cold water?  

Please tune in to hear Angela Bentley, certified Wim Hof instructor talk about her passion for the ice and how she uses her expertise to support people with their physical, mental and emotional health.

I met Angela on a cold day in December, and she led me into the freezing Pickmere Lake.

During our conversation, we talk about - 

• Overcoming anxiety.
• Building courage and being capable of difficult things.
• Abandoning the need to be perfect so that you can find your start. 
• The importance of purpose and connection, both with others and yourself.
• Take steps to bring more connection into your life.
• Finding out what ignites you.
• The privilege of not being alone.

I would like to send Angela a heartfelt thanks,  being part of her group has been a great joy!     

References

Reach Angela Bentley at:  https://theicewarrior.com/

The book I chose for Angela is: Sisu: The Finish Art of Courage by Joanna Nyland

This is the last of my conversations recorded over the Kinder Mass Trespass ninetieth anniversary weekend in the High Peaks of Derbyshire in Hayfield village hall.

Ninety years ago, members of the young communist league gathered at Kinder Scout here in Derbyshire to highlight that walkers were denied access to areas of open country. When the group reached the plateau of Kinder Scout, there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers, and five ramblers were arrested. They received jail sentences ranging from two to six months for offences relating to violence involving the keepers.

It is easy to complacent about our access to open country. We assume that the numerous studies providing overwhelming evidence that walking in nature improves both physical and mental health will be enough to ensure that footpaths remain enshrined in law as public rights of way. 

Sadly this isn't true; our access is constantly under threat as more and more green space is earmarked for development. Luckily my guest today, Kate Ashbrook, has dedicated her life to campaigning for our right to roam in the countryside.    

Kate has been general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, Britain's oldest national conservation body, for more than 35 years. She was also the first woman and youngest-ever chair of the Ramblers Association, and patron of the Walkers Are Welcome Towns Network, as well as many other environmental groups. Her campaigning was hugely influential in establishing Walkers' rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland, protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW Act) of 2000. 

Kate's values and character are integral to her role, and she says, "it is vital to be tough and fearless never to start by compromising, or you give away too much and never give up." 

During her time as a trustee of the Ramblers Association, she has never missed a committee meeting. 

 She acknowledges the gravitas of her work; "we are not a fringe group, we are mainstream, we change lives, and we save lives."

It is a great privilege to converse with Kate, especially in Hayfield on the historic ninetieth anniversary of the Kinder Trespass.

Kate says, "But history is not an end in itself, it informs our future, and we can learn from it. It gives us credibility and clout. We must never forget that proud record of campaigning and take it with us into future battles." 

I thank Kate and wish her every success as she selflessly campaigns on behalf of all of us who appreciate the ability to access open spaces.  

Follow Kate Ashbrook's blog here: https://campaignerkate.wordpress.com/

Find out more about the Tent People:  www.thetentpeople.co.uk

Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group: https://kindertrespass.org.uk/

Kinder Mass Trespass: Celebrating John Anderson, one of the trespassers jailed for his action.

In this episode of Our Community, I'm in the village of Hayfield in the high peaks of Derbyshire on the ninetieth anniversary weekend of the historic Kinder Mass Trespass.

Ninety years ago, members of the young communist league gathered at Kinder Scout here in Derbyshire to highlight that walkers were denied access to areas of open country. When the group reached the plateau of Kinder Scout, there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers. As a result, six ramblers were arrested. They received jail sentences ranging from two to six months for offences relating to alleged violence involving the keepers.

One of the men arrested was called John Anderson, and in this, the second of three conversations recorded over the Kinder Mass Trespass 90th anniversary weekend in the High Peaks of Derbyshire in Hayfield village hall, I'm honoured to be talking to John Anderson's niece, Dorothy Collins and her daughter Lisa Holland.

They share some of their memories of John, known as Jack and also discuss the impact his jail sentence had on his and his family's life.

Taking a stand is brave, and now ninety years later, we can look back at the impact of John Anderson's action. The mass trespass can be said to have led to the passage of the National Parks legislation in 1949[8] and helped pave the way for the establishment of the Pennine Way and other long-distance footpaths. Walkers' rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland were eventually protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW Act) of 2000.

We should keep in mind Dorothy's phrase 'he never got over it' when describing the impact of the trespass on John's life. Most of us are not called to act; we merely benefit from the actions of others. 

I thank Joss Underwood from the Tent People, who generously introduced me to Dorothy and Lisa.

References

Reach Helen on Instagram @helenlouisedarby or at their website www.helendarbypoetry.com

Find out more about the Tent People:  www.thetentpeople.co.uk

Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group: https://kindertrespass.org.uk/

In this episode of Our Community, I’m in the village of Hayfield in the high peaks of Derbyshire on the ninetieth anniversary weekend of the historic Kinder Mass Trespass. 

The physical and mental consolations of nature are one of life’s great gifts but granting working class people access to the countryside has long been fraught with conflict. Ninety years ago members of the young communist league gathered at Kinder Scout here in Derbyshire, to highlight the fact that walkers were denied access to areas of open country. When the group reached the plateau of Kinder Scout, there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers. As a result, six ramblers were arrested. They received jail sentences ranging from two to six months for offences relating to violence involving the keepers.

According to the Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group website, this act of civil disobedience was one of the most successful in British history. It arguably led to the passage of the National Parks legislation in 1949[8] and helped pave way for the establishment of the Pennine Way and other long-distance footpaths. Walkers' rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland were eventually protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW Act) of 2000. 

This is the first of three conversations recorded over the Kinder Mass Trespass 90th anniversary weekend in the High Peaks of Derbyshire in Hayfield village hall.

I want to thank Joss Underwood from the Tent People, who organised a fantastic pop-up event on the village green in Hayfield and generously introduced me to today’s guest; Helen Darby. 

Helen is a queer, non-binary poet from Manchester who lives in the High Peak. They often write about the interweaving of place, time, class and identity, and sometimes about internet dating.

They have performed invited guest slots at Lancaster Spotlight, That's What She Said Manchester, Superbia for Manchester Pride, Manchester Museum, New Mills Festival, The Bronte Festival of Women’s Writing, Stirred and She Grrrowls in Edinburgh Free Fringe, amongst others.   

Their poems have recently been published in The Broken Spine and the modernist magazines.

In this recording, Helen delivers a beautiful rendition of their powerful poem; 1932 Kinder Scout 

·         We talk about the importance of open spaces for leisure and how the relief of the countryside was vital for the mill factory workers around Manchester.

·         How celebrating and understanding historical events such as the Kinder Mass Trespass is vital to 'keeping the flame alive and fostering understanding of connection and context.

·         How socialist roots and collective action shape people.   

Reach Helen on Instagram @helenlouisedarby or at their website www.helendarbypoetry.com

Find out more about the Tent People:  www.thetentpeople.co.uk

Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group: https://kindertrespass.org.uk/

This conversation was recorded more than a year ago, before my relocation from Singapore to Manchester, UK.  As I plunged into a new life, I struggled to find my way and felt unable to publish any podcasts. Now winter is over, and as we hurtle through spring, my energy has returned, and I’m delighted to share this episode.  

My guests are three members of Singapore’s American Women’s Association Running Group.

Bernie Tretta from Euston, Texas; epidemiologist and data queen

Qian Marquard from Beijing; educator and super A (super cool, trendy, and sassy!)

Suzanne Hizzey Murphy from Seattle, Washington; teacher, organisational wizard and US Embassy spouse

Richly diverse in age, nationality and skills, all three beautifully illustrate the firm friendships forged in this vibrant community. 

We talk about how being part of an ever-changing group means creating a culture that continues; Bernie uses the lovely analogy of a ship being rebuilt one board at a time allowing new people the opportunity to renew the group’s strength, energy and innovation. 

As we all look back and search for blessings during the Covid lockdown, Suzanne talks about how devising daily challenges for the running group motivated her to keep going and had the bonus of deepening the group’s connections and friendships. Superficially, the challenges may seem inconsequential, but the underlying impact is profound.  

Running strips away makeup and status, and Qian talks about how running may make you suffer. Still, a running group will gift motivation, engagement, friendship and fun – plus massages on a running vacation if you are lucky! We all agree that it’s essential not to take the group for granted and how being part of the group has been hugely valuable in gifting friendship and support and keeping loneliness at bay.

The community transcends running the joint energy created by the members means a wide variety of activity options, both running and socially orientated. Those who organise things for others receive unexpected benefits, and all, regardless of their running prowess, are eagerly welcomed, and no one is ever left behind.      

Key takeaways:

·          When people leave the group, culture is rebuilt by new people, one board at a   time.

·          Running will humble you; you can’t hide behind makeup or status.

·          Although running may make you suffer, a running group will gift motivation,                   engagement, friendship and fun – plus massages if you are lucky! 

·          A running group is a great antidote to loneliness and should not be taken for granted.

·          Magic happens when people use their skills to organise events so others can take part. 

·          Showing up is a vast joy regardless of your running ability.

 References:
American Women's Association:  https://www.awasingapore.org

Many of us labour in commercial jobs but nurture the hope in our hearts that one day we can begin to write.   

This wonderful Our Community episode features three writers who have ‘fixed their words and made them concrete.’ Not born writers, their backgrounds are diverse and encompass teaching, business, and urban planning. 

You are invited to be inspired to share your own writing by listening to their evocative pieces spanning poetry, a childhood memory of being caught in an earthquake, and the history of roads.

A huge thank you to Helena Cochrane, Rhonda Bernstein and  Christi Elflein, members of the American Women’s Association Writers’ Group. 

Today’s Our Community conversation is about a trail running group called Lewy’s Loop whose members meet once a week in the Rain Forest of Bukit Timah Singapore to run a tough cross country circuit. 

Anna Tipping, Head of Insurance Asia at Norton Rose Fulbright, Vicky Windsor, Business Development Lead, SAP SuccessFactors APJ and myself discuss why we love being part of this community. 

We talk about what motivates people who may have nothing else in common to gather and take on a tough physical challenge. How collective responsibility and an individual commitment to turn up is key to this community’s success. How ritual and routine, drive efficiency and lessens the emotional and physical effort. 

How inclusivity and flexible activity ensure people with different abilities can take part and no one is left behind. We talk about being physically fully present, being gritty with yourself, changing behaviour and making a personal commitment.   

What it means to be fit and how important it is to set an example to your family. 

Key takeaways.

Doing something hard keeps you sane and structured, helps build resilience and serves as a reminder that there is more in life than the urban jungle.

Habits and commitment will get you to the start line.

 The group will give you a boost in the dark times and carry you over the finish line.  

People like doing things with other people. 

You have to run your own race without comparing yourself to others. 

Grabbing the coattails of people better than yourself will massively strengthen your performance. 

In this episode, Alex Loh leads the conversation and I contemplate what it means to leave the country that has been my home for the last eleven years and repatriate to Manchester; a city I last lived in when I was eighteen. 

We discuss reaching the decision to move and beginning the process of detachment from the close community. We explore the question is repatriation harder than expatriation?

The need to say goodbye and the importance of revisiting, walking, eating and taking photographs.

The value of frontloading logistics to give yourself time to focus on people and experiences. How important it is to be proactive and make things happen before you run out of time.

What I will miss about Singapore and my thoughts about being gifted the grace to rediscover the city I was born in.     

Huge thank you to Alex Loh for being such a gracious host and all-around wonderful person!

References:
Alex Loh https://linktr.ee/alexlohsengyue
 

‘This is real film making’

Saint Jack was filmed in 1978 and is the only American film to be entirely shot on location in Singapore,  capturing a ‘glowing, squirming, rhythmic blend’ of a life that was rapidly disappearing St Jack was originally banned in Singapore.  Consequently, the film remains under the radar even though Quentin Tarantino believes it would have won Oscars if it was released today.

My guests today, Ben Slater and Jane Iyer have researched the back story of Saint Jack and we talk about this fascinating film and the equally enthralling story of the characters behind it.

We explore the mixed feelings the film generated; the creative fusion between the Hollywood stars, European producers, and local talent; the fallout afterwards and how the film changed lives. 

Ben Slater is a writer, lecturer and curator who hails from the UK and has been based in Singapore since 2002. He is the author of Kinda Hot: The Making of Saint Jack in Singapore a book about the making of the film Saint Jack.

Jane Iyer is the founder of Jane’s Tours and is a huge supporter of the arts. 

References

Kinda Hot; The Making of Saint Jack in Singapore: Ben Slater https://www.amazon.com/Kinda-Hot-Making-Saint-Singapore/dp/9812610693

Saint Jack Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Jack_(film)

Janes Tours: https://janestours.sg/