About me

Hilary Straw

Bio

Hi, I’m Hilary and I would like to share with you some of my past, present and future experiences.  I love re-living my adventures and reminiscing.  If this should inspire anyone else to do the same, that’s great!

Many of us have a list of things we would like to do before we get too old, but we procrastinate, get side-tracked with other aspects of life, or just don’t have the courage to get on and do it.  It really is possible, at any stage of life, to get out of your comfort zone and to go on the journey that you have always dreamed about.

My life experiences have shaped who I have become.  They include backpacking in my 20s, teaching for most of my life, marriage and kids, divorce, travelling  and long distance walking in groups, couples, solo and as a single parent.  I’ve recently taken early retirement, not to sit at home, but to be free to get out and live life to the full.   It’s never too late to embark on a new adventure in midlife, whether it’s for the first time or returning after a long gap.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please do contact me.  I’d love to hear from you.

Places I’ve been

33

Countries

5

Continents

  • England
  • Ireland
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • France
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Portugal
  • Austria
  • The Netherlands
  • Luxembourg
  • Croatia
  • Greece
  • Turkey
  • Switzerland
  • Malta
  • Liechstenstein
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Morocco
  • India
  • Sri Lanka
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
  • Cambodia
  • Singapore
  • Indonesia
  • Timor-Leste
  • Venezuela
  • Peru
  • Australia
  • New Zealand

Things I value

Family and friends

I'm a mother, sister, daughter, aunt, great aunt. Family have inspired me and supported me throughout my life. I also value my close circle of friends for their company, comfort and fun.

Health and fitness/self-care

I aim to walk and practise yoga every day, with the occasional wild swim and bike ride thrown in. I also look after my mind with reading, writing, playing music, good conversation, meditation and being curious of the world around me.

Freedom and independence

I follow my heart and do the things that bring me joy. Freedom to me means having the courage to do what is true to myself, on my own if necessary. Being independent means being responsible for my own happiness and fulfilment.

Nature and the environment

I love being outside in open spaces, high up a mountain, watching a sunrise/sunset, seeing flora and fauna in its natural habitat, feeling the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin. It is important that we work together to keep it clean and safe and available to all.

Equality, kindness, peace

In a world where some people have become very self-centred or self-obsessed, I dream of one in which we are all treated fairly and equally with kindness and compassion. If this is too idealistic to achieve, then I aim to surround myself with people who have the same values of fairness and kindness as I do.

5 things about me

  1. I come from Lincoln and live in Bournemouth on the South Coast of the UK
  2. I have spent most of my working life teaching music
  3. I once played the parts of a harlot and a lunatic in a production of the opera ‘A Rake’s Progress’
  4. One New Year I got picked up by Sydney Harbour Police whilst attempting to swim from one side of the harbour to the other
  5. I slept in a long house in inner Kalimantan with local tribes and didn’t see another tourist for two weeks

What I do

Online tutoring

Teacher Training

Exam moderating

Long distance walking

Travelling

Writing

Playing Music

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