The Happiness of Pursuit
I've set myself a little quest that will hopefully involve not too much suffering, minimal blisters, and make everyday a bit more meaningful
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jojomakesdoesclimbs
Climbing and creative blog
One woman (and her dog) making things, doing things, and climbing things.
- Mar 24, 2022
- 3 min
Photos of a Cute Dog
I've had a cold and words have failed me. Here's some cute photos of my dog instead. Her name is Amber. She is a galgo (Spanish greyhound).
- Mar 3, 2022
- 1 min
A Stuck Key Letter Puzzle Poem
A key on my laptop is stuck so I've written this piece without it. It's a poetic puzzle. Can you spot the missing letter?
- Feb 10, 2022
- 2 min
Thighs of the Climber
I've started cycling 11km to work and back. My weak as heck climbing legs cannot cope. Here, I re-work Eye of the Tiger to express my pain!
- Jan 6, 2022
- 1 min
We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming . . .
I'm taking a brief blogging break. I'll be back in three weeks time with a new 'climbs' post.
- Dec 30, 2021
- 12 min
Best and Worst Books of 2021
In this post I discuss my reading habits and review some of the best and worst books I've read this year.
- Dec 9, 2021
- 8 min
Why I Don't Buy Christmas Presents
I stopped buying Christmas presents a few years ago. In this post you can learn why and decide whether I'm a genius or a miserable git!
- Nov 18, 2021
- 6 min
A Hard Water Stream of Consciousness
I moved house and my brain has given up on complex thoughts. This week's blog post is a random string of thoughts about tea, toast and sofas
- Oct 28, 2021
- 12 min
40 Hopes for my 40 Year Old Self
It's my birthday (almost!) and, although I'm not turning 40 this year, I've been thinking about how my life might be in just under a decade
- Oct 7, 2021
- 8 min
I've Always Been Wordy
I let my 17-year-old self take charge this week. We're exploring some of my early attempts at creative and vaguely coherent writing.
- Sep 16, 2021
- 8 min
The Problem With Minimalism
Do you need a house full of stuff? Can minimalists help you form a better relationship with your possessions? The short answer is maybe!
- Aug 26, 2021
- 7 min
One Year as a Failed Blogger
I've been a blogger for a year. According to the numbers the blog is a total failure. But it's been successful in more important ways.
- Aug 5, 2021
- 13 min
My Top 8 Sporting Memories
I love watching sport! With Olympic fever in the air, I walk down memory lane and recollect on my favourite moments from competitive sport.
- Jul 15, 2021
- 7 min
Is Ambition Always a Good Thing?
I discuss my own experiences of achieving and failing to achieve my ambitions and how this has shaped my current perspective of ambition.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 7 min
7 Quotes to Cheer You Up
I'm having online banking issues this week so I've turned to other people's witty words to cheer me up!
- Sep 19, 2022
- 7 min
Women's Bouldering Festival 2022
I recently attended the Women’s Bouldering Festival in Fontainebleau. It was an experience unlike any I’d had before and I wanted to get...
- Apr 2, 2022
- 5 min
The Balance of Power
I've been thinking a lot (possibly too much!) about the role of power in climbing and what getting stronger means to me as a climber.
- Mar 10, 2022
- 9 min
A Guide to Types of Rock Climbing
Trad. Bouldering. Lead. Speed. Crack. It's all climbing but slightly different. This guide will help you understand it all!
- Feb 17, 2022
- 5 min
Learning To Fall
In this re-posting of my first article in Beta magazine, I explain why learning to fall is a crucial step when learning to climb.
- Jan 27, 2022
- 4 min
Advice for New Climbers
The idea of taking up climbing can be exciting but scary. Here's a list of useful tips and information that might tempt you to give it a try
- Jan 6, 2022
- 1 min
We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming . . .
I'm taking a brief blogging break. I'll be back in three weeks time with a new 'climbs' post.
- Dec 16, 2021
- 9 min
To Spray Or Not To Spray? That Is The Question
In this post I discuss the gnarly topic of beta spraying. What is it? Why is it an issue? Should you ever do it? Let's find out!
- Nov 25, 2021
- 6 min
Setting (Another) Personal Climbing Goal
I've been feeling a little confused about what my next climbing goal should be. Join me as I try to figure it out in this week's post.
- Nov 4, 2021
- 9 min
Training Plans: The Good, The Bad, and The Hip Flexors
I've been following a training plan for 6 months. Here's what I've got right, what I've got wrong, and why hip flexor conditioning sucks!
- Oct 14, 2021
- 12 min
My Top 8 UK Bouldering Gyms
I've been to a lot of climbing gyms in my time. Here's a few of my favourites from across the UK and some memories from my visits to them.
- Sep 23, 2021
- 10 min
Climbing My First 7a Boulder
I achieved my goal of climbing a 7a boulder before the end of 2021! In this post I take you through the boulder and how I climbed it.
- Sep 2, 2021
- 7 min
Repeating the 9c Strength Test
Have I got any stronger in the last six months? In this post, I discuss my second attempt at the 9c strength and what the results suggest.
- Aug 12, 2021
- 13 min
Review of Climbing's First Olympics
Climbing made it's Olympic debut last week and it was amazing. In this post, I'll tell you all about who won and how they did it!
- Jul 22, 2021
- 12 min
A Guide to Climbing at the Olympics
This guide explains the format and rules of sport climbing at the Olympics, featuring all three disciplines: speed, bouldering, and lead
- Jul 1, 2021
- 8 min
Meet My Current Boulder Project
Allow me to introduce you to my current boulder project. In this post I'll tell you all about it and go through the best moves in detail.
- Oct 14, 2022
- 9 min
House Update
Husband and I have been busy doing some DIY and decorating this summer. Check out the fruits of our labour in this post!
- Mar 17, 2022
- 6 min
All the Clothes I'll Make One Day
I haven't been doing a lot of sewing lately so here's some projects I'd love to complete in the rather distant future. It's fun to dream!
- Feb 24, 2022
- 5 min
Lulling Myself into Leopard Print
I've recently been trying to incorporate a new print into my wardrobe. Leopard print! I'm a little frightened so I'm taking it very slowly.
- Feb 3, 2022
- 5 min
How to Re-Cover a Cushion
Acquiring things on Freecycle and sprucing them up is great fun. Except when you accidentally buy a glitter bomb disguised as a cushion.
- Jan 6, 2022
- 1 min
We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming . . .
I'm taking a brief blogging break. I'll be back in three weeks time with a new 'climbs' post.
- Dec 23, 2021
- 8 min
Household Makes and Restorations
Since moving into our new house we've painted some things, sanded a lot of other things, and not done too much terrible DIY!
- Dec 2, 2021
- 5 min
Tour of my New Sewing Studio
After two weeks of living in the new house, my sewing studio is organised enough for a public viewing. Come and look around my new studio!
- Nov 11, 2021
- 5 min
Boning, Frogging, and a Pounding Block
I've not had a lot of time to sew lately. Instead of sharing my latest creations I'll share some sewing related words I find mildly amusing
- Oct 21, 2021
- 4 min
The Skirt of Spontaneity
Join me as I spontaneously decided to make a skirt rather than doing pressing university work. Good life choices!
- Sep 30, 2021
- 8 min
Favourite Clothes I've Made
I haven't made much over the last few weeks so let's take a walk down memory lane and explore some of my previous creations.
- Sep 9, 2021
- 5 min
Remaking a Home Climbing Wall
We're moving house soon so the home climbing wall is coming down. Join me as I replace some of the pieces with better versions of themselves
- Aug 19, 2021
- 7 min
How to Art
I don't see myself as an artist but sometimes the creative mood kicks in! In this post I explore my artistic endeavours, past and present.
- Jul 29, 2021
- 5 min
Creatively Practical or Practically Creative?
In this post I discuss the relationship between creativity and practicality and the value we place on these two qualities.
- Jul 8, 2021
- 7 min
How To Reuse Old Bedding
How to rescue your old bedding from landfill for a little longer by turning it into new soft and squidgy things!
- Jun 17, 2021
- 3 min
Learning to use a Lathe
Seamstress has a crack at using a piece of heavy machinery that isn't a sewing machine! Check out the first thing I made with a lathe.
- Feb 17, 2022
- 5 min
Learning To Fall
In this re-posting of my first article in Beta magazine, I explain why learning to fall is a crucial step when learning to climb.
- Jan 27, 2022
- 4 min
Advice for New Climbers
The idea of taking up climbing can be exciting but scary. Here's a list of useful tips and information that might tempt you to give it a try
- Aug 26, 2021
- 7 min
One Year as a Failed Blogger
I've been a blogger for a year. According to the numbers the blog is a total failure. But it's been successful in more important ways.
- Apr 15, 2021
- 8 min
Chatting Fear and Creative Flair with Faye Hine
I sit down for a chat about ethically made jewellery, fear and mental training for climbing, and creativity with Faye Hine
- Apr 8, 2021
- 9 min
The Art of Climbing - The Big and The Small
I explore the personal and profound aspects of climbing through the work of two very talented artists: Lizzy Lee and Coralie Huon
- Jan 14, 2021
- 11 min
6 Inspiring Women In Climbing
There's loads of amazing women out there climbing hard and making great content. Here's some of my current favourites!
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