Q1/ How do you know the Gledhill/Davies Family?
I first met Lowri quite a few years ago when my beloved dog, Tinker, was referred to the Smart Clinic for her arthritis. I found Lowri’s company very enjoyable during Tinker’s treatment sessions and we became firm friends. After a time, Lowri asked me to tutor Will in English and I would therefore see Lowri at the clinic and Will during lessons. Through both the Smart Clinic and my tutoring of Will, I got a bonus Bob! Though my dog died two years ago, I am happy to say that I have remained good friends with the Gledhill/Davies family and that I continue to tutor Will, who I enjoy teaching immensely.
Q2/ What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishments are always by proxy, as I never feel prouder than when the young people I work with achieve their dreams or gain success, whatever form that may take. Having said that, I am pretty proud that I managed to qualify as a teacher whilst living in a tent, empty-pocketed and freezing cold. I look back on that period of my life with amazed wonder as to how I managed to pull it off.
Q3/ How are you getting involved with the 3 peaks MotorOn challenge?
Unfortunately, as a full-time teacher (faced with crazy Covid GCSE expectations) I am unable to take the Friday of the challenge off work. This means I am faced with missing the first mountain, though just try to stop me climbing the others!
Q4/ What’s your favourite thing to listen too to keep motivated?
I like to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. My current favourite podcasts include ‘Like Minded Friends’ with Tom Allen and Suzie Ruffell, ‘Out’ with Suzie Ruffell and ‘We Will Get Through This’ with Sandi Toksvig. I like history podcasts and comedy, with the occasional sprinkle of crime or politics. I listen to all sorts of books, but, when out walking, I prefer less academic content and opt for works by authors such as Sue Townsend or biographies of people who interest me. If I need to get myself up a big hill, though, I swap books for music and will usually listen to my favourite folk music or, for extra energy, a bit of Motown/soundtracks from musicals. I love to sing along to music and the residents of my sleepy village are now used to the strange northern woman singing to herself at full volume as she strides along the byways.
Q5/ What influenced you to become involved with MotorOn Cymru?
I was influenced to partake in the MotorOn Cymru challenge by the deep love I have for Lowri and her family and a wish to support them, as well as my desire to do something positive and forward thinking for other individuals and their families who have received and are living with such a diagnosis. I am a very practical person and become frustrated when I am unable to change something, so when I found out that there is something I could do that might in some way make a difference, I jumped at it. It must be noted, however, that Will has played no small part in securing my participation, as he is, despite his many, many loveable qualities, a terrible nag! In this particular case, however, I appreciate the nagging and thank him for his incessant pestering. You are a good egg, Will.
Q6/ What are your top tips when training for an event?
I have absolutely zero ideas about training for an event. On this subject, I have no hints or tips, I’m afraid. I am not someone who is a fitness fiend. I love to walk, but, due to a medical condition, my walking is often interrupted by hospital stays or general illness. Nonetheless, I try to walk whenever possible and, living on a hill, wherever I walk necessitates bloody hard work! If forced to give a tip, I would say that you can only do what you can and you should walk, run, cycle, swim, or whatever you enjoy, for you. Don’t pressure yourself, feel guilty or compare yourself to others. Be proud of yourself for what you can do and just do you best. Challenge yourself, push yourself and care about your health and fitness – as this is obviously hugely important and should be valued – but don’t beat yourself up if you need a day off or find things hard.
Q7/ If you were cooking dinner for 4 celebrities, who would you invite and what would you cook?
I spent far too long thinking about who to invite to dinner and ended-up just deciding on these four as a collection of the wise and witty.
Sandi Toksvig
Miriam Margolyes
Tom Allen
Maya Angelou
For my esteemed guests, I would cook a roast dinner and would cook this in the proper, northern, Yorkshire way: none of this nonsense about not having Yorkshire puddings unless serving beef. Before I moved to the Land of the Dragon, I’d never heard of anything as ridiculous as this concept. Come on Wales! You really need to get on-board and embrace the importance of the pudding at every event and, indeed, on every conceivable occasion. Surely any self-respecting, red-blooded dragon would revere a pudding smothered, as it invariably is, in a liquid consisting primarily of the juices of freshly cooked flesh? We’d have lashings of wondrous gravy with our meal. A special gravy-spoon would be provided to aid ultimate consumption: plates, due to their very nature, can be tricky in allowing crucial and complete ingestion of this delicious, nay essential, addition to any repast.
Q8/ What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is being trapped in a room with Will whilst he continually questions me on the necessity of commas. Nightmare.
Q9/ What would you sing at karaoke?
‘Ain’t no Mountain High Enough’ Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Q10/ If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
My superpower would be the ability to fly. I do this in dreams a lot and it seems so easy. I’ve tried, though, and it’s not. It’s painful. Trust me.