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One of the themes to come out of my Celebration of Ageing series has been the gift that age brings in knowing yourself more fully. With that comes more self-assurance and self-belief which makes me think of the following quote.
“There is so much wisdom locked up in the stories women don’t tell.” Elaine Welteroth
This week I want to share something that might seem on a tangent to my usual nutrition content, but it is something that has really helped me to understand myself more fully and is fundamental to why my work focusses on future proofing the brain.
If you have joined any of my masterclasses you will know that my paternal grandmother, Mary Walker, was a big influence in my life. She shared her love of horses and dogs with me. She lived an unconventional life with as a working, single mother (in the 1960’s) who became a champion racing driver. She had dementia in her later years and seeing such a vital, brilliant woman lose her mind has no doubt inspired me to focus on the brain in my nutrition work. She sadly died in 2002.
What is the trunk?
While helping to sort out her affairs after she died I found an old trunk. It contained letters written to my grandfather, Jim Walker, during the Second World War. I never knew my grandfather, he died when my father was very young. Jim had what would now be recognised as PTSD and wasn´t really spoken about while I was growing up. Jim grew up on a cattle range in Argentina, somewhere I have always felt a connection with despite having no contact with any relatives there.
The letters in the trunk contained enough information to start investigating and that is what I have done over the past 19 years. I took my first trip to Argentina in 2005 and was delighted to find I have relatives there.
El Tronco Argentino
I always wanted to write a book about my grandparents and while it has taken me a while, that is what I have done. I am self-publishing the book on Kindle and it was released on Wednesday 24th February, which is not only my birthday but is also the day my great, great grandfather, Jim’s father, first set sail for Argentina.
Researching and writing the book with the ghost writer Mary-Lynne Stadler has been an incredible process. There have been so many amazing connections and deepening relationships along the way and it has given me a stronger sense of who I am.
I would love to share the book with you. It is only available on Kindle for now but get your copy by clicking on this link. El Tronco Argentino
I have also created an Instagram account and Facebook page – click the below buttons to connect – where I have posted photographs from the trunk and beyond and will be sharing snippets from the story.
I had all sorts of big plans for my 50th none of which can happen due to the Covid situation. Of course, I am disappointed. Maybe however, the trick is to find something magical in what we have.
The past 12 months have been so tough for so many people. One of the positives for me is that Mary-Lynne, my amazing co-writer on this project, was able to get so much writing done in the first lockdown here in Spain. I am so grateful for her help with this and releasing the book now feels like a worthy and perhaps more meaningful way to celebrate by sharing it with you.
I´d love to hear what you think of it. Although I can’t tell you how terrifying it is to finally release this after all the years of planning.
In health and happiness
Ange
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