My interview about my Montana riding adventure in May 2013 – has just been published in the latest issue of Your Horse!
FROM THE BLOG
Arab interlude – Summer in Lebanon, 1939
In 1939, my grandmother, Eileen Gedge (pictured above with my grandfather), met a wealthy Lebanese Law student called Ahmed Tewfik Bey Al-Khalil at Cambridge University where they were both studying. They became firm friends and according to family rumours, Ahmed fell in love with my grandmother – a tall, fine boned, beautiful woman, always impeccably dressed and an exceptional tennis player. Sadly my grandmother was forced to reject Ahmed’s advances as it was impossible then for her to marry an Arab. In those days, inter-racial marriages were frowned upon in High Society. After university, they lost touch, but not before[…]
Pink Cars & Purple Jellyfish: Surfing in Kerala, India
By Jane Wynyard November 2013 I certainly lived up to my Calamity Jane moniker on a recent visit to Kerala, South India. in the two weeks I was there, I was severely stung by jellyfish, shat on by a giant sea eagle and slapped by a temple elephant. I also swallowed a mouthful of polluted river and spent more than a week in bed in the UK with gastroenteritis. But don’t let this story of nature’s retribution put you off. Despite a series of unforeseen calamities caused by a combination of heatstroke stupidity and bad luck, Kerala is definitely worth a visit. Kerala[…]
A tribute to a very special dog who lived on the streets of Bucharest
By Jane Wynyard September 26 2013 I was so saddened in 2013 to read about the Romanian courts agreeing to cull thousands of stray dogs after one of them fatally mauled a four year old child. The horrific death of any child is hard to comprehend, but the senseless extermination of thousands of homeless dogs in retribution is even harder. It was the State, after all, that forced Romanians to dump their beloved pets on the street during the communist era – the awful legacy of a brutal and oppressive political regime – and now it was the State[…]
Travelling alone – why it’s good for you
(c) evaser.com I was talking to a friend about my next adventure – a surf and yoga trip to Kerala planned for later this year. Her eyes widened as I told her of my plans to go alone … “I wish I was more like you,” she said. “You’re so brave and adventurous going off on your own without a care in the world. I’d love to be able to do that but I’m too scared.” I was surprised by her response. I’ve never thought that travelling on my own might be considered dangerous or adventurous by others. I’m sure[…]
The magical world of England’s New Forest
By Jane Wynyard, August 27, 2013 The English countryside is more than just lovely walks in the countryside, nature and fresh air. It’s a place that takes me back to my childhood daydreams of fairies, goblins, heroic knights, outlaws, legends, princes and princesses. Which is why I love the tiny village of Brockenhurst in the New Forest, Hampshire. It’s a place where you can let your imagination run wild. New Forest, which is more than a thousand years old, is a world of creatures, ancient woodlands, fascinating history, royalty, miles and miles of forest, and breath-taking country walks. And, most importantly,[…]
Prince Fluffy Kareem: helping horses, donkeys and camels in the Pyramid area of Cairo, Egypt
I want to give a huge shout out to Prince Fluffy Kareem – aka PFK – an amazing charity that helps horses, camels and donkeys in the pyramid area of Cairo, Egypt.Their work is incredible, inspiring, tough, challenging, sad and life-changing. Norwegian horse lover, Marte, and Egyptian stable manager Sherif alongside Emma Thompson from the UK run the PFK stable with 13 horses, of which 11 are rescues. In addition to stabling rescues, PFK foster other working horses that need rest and treatment for various issues, run clinics where local horse owners bring their horses for treatment and have made three[…]
My week as a real Calamity Jane on a cattle drive in Montana
In my 20s, I worked as a news journalist at a regional paper called The Daily News in New Plymouth, New Zealand. I earned the nickname Calamity Jane because every time I was on late duty, a major disaster happened – a gang shoot-out, an ammunitions warehouse on fire, capsized Korean fishing vessel, six car pile-up, a cyclone … you name it, I covered it. The Chief Report would ring the police and fire brigade to warn them I was on late duty. It was that bad. But this story isn’t about my journalism days or the disasters I covered. It’s a[…]
Little piggies go to the park in London
Monday May 27 2013 This has to be one of the best things I’ve seen in London in my whole ten years here. I was walking with a friend through Ravenscourt Park today and ranting about how I needed more nature and time with animals when there in the middle of the park were two enormous pigs! They were the gorgeous sweetest kunekune pigs, twin brothers called Snout and Crackling. They both wore dog harnesses and grunted, snuffled and ate copius amounts of fresh green grass. Other dogs didn’t quite know what to make of them including one[…]
Meeting Pavarotti in the City of Love – Verona, Italy
In August 1990, I travelled to the city of romance – Verona, Italy – as part of the New Zealand contingent for the World Festival Choir. It was my first ever visit to Europe and the start of a long love affair with Italy, Europe, and Pavarotti. Singers had been selected from around the world to sing Verdi’s Requiem at the Arena di Verona with Pavarotti, in a performance to raise funds for United Nations refugees. More than fifty thousand dollars was raised from the concert, which was attended by Princess Diana and the King and Queen of Spain. The performance also[…]