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News & Views

Mindfulness and Healthy Living on £1 per day?

From Shruti at Fairfield House:

Some of you may have read my blog about my experiment with eating healthily on GBP 1.00 a day as part of the Live Below the Line initiative. While it was challenging, it was also an interesting exercise in getting to know the prices of food (which I often take for granted), getting to know the body and checking in with it to see what ‘needs’ it has as opposed to just stuffing it with things I like and want to eat. So I learnt to get in touch with different types of hunger and feed them, becoming sensitive to how the body reacts to the food I put in and also to just remain hungry for a while instead of stuffing it with food.

Exploring hunger, the pangs, watching the mind becoming restless as the hunger took root, becoming irritable and so on, it was a great exercise in Mindfulness, remaining centred and just experiencing these sensations in the body.

This has given me a lot of food for thought (so to speak!) for the Mindful Cooking workshops coming up in July and November. Come and experience my experiments in action! Places are limited so best to book early. We still have a few spaces left on both of them.

Can you help to save The Coach House?

We have wanted to secure the future of our work by trying to raise funds in recent years in order to either renovate the Steadings or erect a new smaller building on the ground adjacent. Unfortunately due to the financial climate, even though we employed a part time fundraiser, we have not been able to raise the money needed. The lease for the Coach House itself terminates in April 2015 and we now know that it will not be renewed, with the House being put on the market for sale.

We feel and know that the Coach House is a very special place. This has been affirmed so often in the letters many of our friends have written and in the outpouring of thanks at our 20th Celebration last year. There is no doubt of the importance of the Coach House. We know it has a purpose that is much needed today and are looking for ways to ensure that it is given the security and opportunity needed to continue.

The way forward…

The Trustees have looked at possible options and are now focused on trying to raise the funds to buy the Coach House so we can continue our work here. With the possible sale of The Steadings and money already accrued, the shortfall we need to raise is a minimum of GBP 165,000.00

Can we count on you to help us? We love the Coach House and we know that many of you do too. If you are able to make a donation, at the moment, the best way is by cheque payable to The Coach House Kilmuir Trust.

It may be that, unable to give a personal donation, you might be able to find opportunities within your own area through friends or people ‘in high places’ to raise something towards the figure needed. It is not insurmountable and together we can save the Coach House. If there are people within Trusts or, just in your area, who might be interested and who you do not feel you can approach on your own, then we will be pleased to do so on hearing from you.

We cannot do this on our own and very much hope that we can enlist your help and support to find ways to ensure the future of our work in this setting that we love so much.

Other possibilities for raising the money needed could be…

  • The Coach House bought for us by a’ philanthropist’ who wishes to see the work we do continue.
  • To be bought by someone who would then long lease it to us for minimal rent.
  • We have sufficient funds to share ownership either with one person or a consortium.

These options could enable us to keep the Steadings for future development.

If you have other options do let us know !

Intuitive Horse have moved

Intuitive Horse has moved to a new location, a lovely 103 acre farm close to the sea and the historic town of Hastings.

They have just published their 2013 retreat calendar and are now offering 5 day retreats in addition to their successful 3 day retreats.

If you haven’t already looked at Intuitive Horse, they provide a tranquil environment in which individuals, through working with horses, can develop their self-awareness and a greater confidence to deal with the challenges and demands of their personal and professional lives.

No riding is involved in the retreats and absolutely no prior experience with horses is necessary.