I’m going off grid. I am hurtling towards the New Forest as I type where I will spend the weekend sewing, painting and doing yoga. You’ll be able to read about it in the August issue of Vegan Living magazine as they have commissioned me to write a piece.

I ummed and ahhed about taking my iPad along, after all, I don’t suppose there will be wi-fi in the woods, but here I am typing on the train. As a foretaste of what’s to come, I struggled to get online when I got past Woking.Let’s hope I can put this up before I land – it’ll be a miracle if there is a picture (there is, but I had to make do with one I took last week. Apologies if it is not foresty enough).

I feel very lucky at the moment. I spent last Wednesday at a glorious silent-retreat and this weekend, I am doing things I love in the woods (okay, so I don’t love sewing, but it will be an interesting challenge…I hope someone kind with 20/20 vision offers to thread my needle).

I’ve also got a forest bathing voucher to use, which was a Christmas present from my sister. I loved the woods when I was a kid growing up in the Sussex countryside, but now, as a 54-year-old woman on a spiritual path, I am nuts about nature. Forests are to me what Disneyland was as a child. I hug trees, stroke ferns and I’ve even taken too watching birds. Whatever next? Not knitting I hope…

This weekend’s retreat has been organised by someone I know and there will be a few friends there who I am eager to catch up with. My neighbour Kate is teaching yoga and although I haven’t done it for about three decades, I’m relishing the opportunity to give it another go. There’s even a brand new yoga mat in my bag that is still wrapped in cellophane.

My spiritual mentor Marion sent another review form to fill in and I was struck by how positive I feel. I am sure this has a lot to do with the fact that I have learned to savour the simple things in life. I’m happy perched on a log watching a robin these days. Hell, it’s almost as good as Netflix…

I’ll see you on the other side!