My working life has taken a number of turns to reach where I am now.  I first earned a very modest income as a spinner and weaver, but once my marriage broke down I couldn’t support myself financially and I trained to be a social worker.  There followed several years of social work, until I had the courage to apply to go to Music College, something I had always wanted to do.  The oboe, piano and singing were my instruments and I was very proud to gain my degree.  

Working as a professional oboist came as a big shock .  The pressure to be good enough was intense and I became very disillusioned.  In the meantime I had done some extra training as a psychotherapist and began to work in this field.  In 2000 the most exciting thing that happened for me was going on a week’s course with Frankie Armstrong entitled ‘Find your Voice’.

The impact of Frankie’s approach was enormous and none of my previous training experiences had ever touched me so deeply.  For the first time I was not judged and every sound I made was ‘good enough’.  I found my own very special voice and with it I was able to express many emotions that had been hitherto suppressed.

Well, I thought, if this has had such an effect on me, how can I use it to help others?  And so started my route into voice work and singing groups.

In March 2013 I became the proud owner of two Sounding Bowls, a new instrument created by Tobias Kaye.  I am truly amazed by their quality and their possibility of enhancing the quest to open out ones heart more and more.  I bought a third one in June and I am now starting to use them as tools for healing and relaxation.  They are particularly good for helping those who are at the end of their life as they have the ability to transport you onto a higher plane -  they are indeed quite magical instruments.

Playing Isabelle

My two favourite boys!

Jane and Ruby the puppy, enjoying the soothing notes of the Sounding Bowl

My family is hugely important to me, and I am lucky enough to have a very big one.  I am one of 6 children and have 23 first cousins and we are all the very best of friends!  My mother has recently come to live with us in Sheringham.  She has a beautiful space that was once the double garage, and it is full of the most amazing paintings, and her piano which she still plays, aged 91!

I am married to a wonderful man, Nick Catchpole who supports me and my work, and keeps my feet on the ground when I need it!  If you need a golf lesson he’s the man for you.  Nick gave me two step-children who are now adult and they have introduced me to parenting and all that that entails...

I try to follow a Buddhist path, in particular the one led by Thich Nhat Hanh of whom there are more details on my mindfulness page.  When I am not working I can be found playing golf, swimming in the north sea, playing tennis, walking with my dog, cooking lovely food, or meeting up with one or other of my several very good friends.

I am currently receiving some very subtle but effective help from Rosa Correale, who practises the Metamorphic Technique, and I use the amazing acupuncturist Saffron Pretty for my physical health.  I have also been hugely helped by Clare Jackson who is constantly developing her skills as a healer and counsellor.  Needless to say that the physical the emotional and the psychological are all intertwined and they all impact on my spiritual wellbeing.  Oh, and there's my dear friend Jane Stevenson (Creature Comforters) who makes Bach Flower Remedies is also always on hand to keep me balanced!

See my links page for other things that interest me.

Voice Work

The voice is far more important than we realize and does truly reflect how we are feeling.  You know instantly on the phone how a loved one is feeling, just by how they say ‘hello’.  After singing in public, speaking in public is one of the most universally feared activity, and this is because when doing it, it is very hard to hide how we really feel. We have three vocal modes to work with, the speaking voice, the singing voice and the sounding voice; and it is this final one that is the one to focus on.  When we  laugh or cry, when we shout or whimper, we are expressing feelings beyond what simple words can convey.  In daily life we don’t need to analysis this but through voice work we can find a way to touch and then release the unresolved emotions that we all have, and have a chance to live happier and more healthy lives.

I Can't Paint

This was a belief that I held until about 11 years ago.  I was given the opportunity to explode this myth and I have been lucky enough to exhibit and sell my work several times.  Going through this process reinforced my understanding about how self belief can be so powerful.  The thing that stops us doing what we want to do is simply fear, and once we overcome that, we can do anything.  

Through all my work I try my hardest to ‘walk my talk’ and I believe that this is one of the main reasons why what I do is  so powerful. 
 

My first painting

I am enormously lucky to co-own a cottage on the Isle of Angelsey in the small village of Rhoscolyn, called Plas Huan.  It sleeps up to 8 people and is ideal for walking, climbing, golfing, birding, swimming, or doing nothing!  If you would like to stay, please contact me for more information.

A Love Meditation

from Thich Nhat Hanh

"May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit.

May I be safe and free from injury.

May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear, and anxiety.

May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love.

May I be able to recognise and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in myself.

May I learn to identify and see the sources of anger, craving and delusion in myself.

May I know how to nourish the seeds of joy in myself every day.

May I be able to live fresh, solid and free.

May I be free from attachment and aversion, but not be indifferent."


Thay teaches that until we can love ourselves, we cannot love others, and that by loving ourselves we then become free to truly love others.