For all the hopes, dreams and excitement woven with stress, lack of sleep, constant worries of things you may have missed or forgotten and things that could go wrong, the day after a successful big project is the best drug ever.
It’s like walking down the mountain in the sunshine with a coffee in one hand and an egg and bacon sandwich in the other after walking up in the dark and the cold. Blindfolded.
Right now I’m the best kind of exhausted. That exhausted-satisfied-relieved-giddy feeling that is the pay off for all of us who are drawn to big projects. I have fantasised about this day. The day after. I hoped the first Gunnas Weekend Writing Retreat would be good, I thought it may be great, I had no idea it could possibly be as magical, hilarious and life altering as it was.
For years I’ve had a dream of running a weekend Gunnas Weekend Writing Retreat. Gunnas Writing Masterclass is an all day thing and the longer I run it the more stuff I have to share and have a drive to go deeper. A few days seemed like a fabulous thing to be a part of, make happen and be able to offer. On the 15th of July 2017, almost nine months ago I put my frock on the block, booked a place and decided to run three retreats.
My friend Lou texted me this morning asked me how it went. I raved and raved in a flurry of texts. When I stopped she said ‘Sounds like Gunnas had a baby with the Love Party.’
Scroll down for a bunch of snaps from the weekend! Retreat testimonials here!
On Friday afternoon the Gunnas all wound their way round the Great Ocean Road, some from as far away as NSW, WA, TAS and SA and arrived at an old monastery on a hill surrounded by cows and overlooking the ocean just near Apollo Bay. Our crack kitchen team were ready and waiting with delicious food and cleansing beverages. After some chatting, boozing, eating, icebreaking and writing all the Gunnas fell, a little bit exhausted, into their warm cozy beds after finding their mech showbags filled with treats and love.
Those who were up for carpe deim-ing started the day with yoga with Joey Remenyi – and/or a swim with me and we all gorged on a five fucking star buffet breakfast with cracking coffee, tea and chat.
The days were spent writing in a chapel surrounded by views of the sea. I stood on the altar cracking the whip while the kitchen team in the next building cooked up a storm. We had frequent breaks, delicious food, and fresh air. There was post deconstructed sushi bowl lunch mindfulness under a pine tree run by Joey.
The highlight of at the afternoon was the glorious Clare Bowdith who drove all the way down on a mission to be useful; to share her stories, her wisdom, her life and her amazing news. As she spoke to all of us from her heart, which is as big as the world, we all crumbled apart and left rebuilt. Of course there was a disco nap on Saturday followed by a roast dinner with chocolate mouse, berries and cream for dessert and the sedate 1980s music quiz was the most incredible joy and love bomb I have ever, and I mean ever, experienced. I will never forget the room erupting and our chef Ash leaping over couches to perform what can only be called Blue Ribbon Jazz Ballet With A Tea Towel. It ended in a disco thanks to the AV, IT and DJ skills of my darling Bear.
Sunday was more of everything as we all laughed, worked, thanked, marvelled and let it all sink in. So very happy but also a little sad.
At 4pm it was time to pile back in our cars, wind back up the Great Ocean Road find our home. We all felt different. We felt even more ourselves.
44 people 264 meals.
Thousands of kilometres.
Millions of stories.
One weekend.
The most urgent task is the showing of gratitude
Ash Taylor – Head chef, kitchen mastermind, eye candy and Solid Gold Dancer. From all of us who you served and loved this week ‘The food was fabulous, the moves were fantastic and you are done!’
Bear – TLC, AV, DJ, IT, truck driver, kitchen gimp, god only knows what I’d be without you.
Roo – Can do, unflappable, work machine who not only bought his skills but his love and enthusiasm. We worship you.
Joey Remenyi – yoga, mindfulness and ukulele. What a combo. You bought so much magic, heart and knowledge. See you in June! And November!
Clare Bowditch – You were one of the first people I called and you said yes before I could finish the sentence. You said ‘I’m in’. Honoured is the word. But that doesn’t sound right. Thank you and I love you.
Jen Clark Design – my one stop shop for all my graphic design needs. Working on the merch with you was one of the many fantastic projects we have done together. You get me and what I do and you particularly get the Gunnas. Another brilliant job. All hail Jen Clark.
Lynda Horton and Adrian Richardson at La Luna Bistro for the constant HOW CAN WE HELP? WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT DO YOU NEED? And typical generousity of loaning me the van for the weekend. It was a dream.
But mostly, the Gunnas. The retreat was nothing without you and what you bought with you. Your courage, your curiosity and your passion. Thank-you. I bow towards you.
Last night as we were nodding off to sleep I said to Bear ‘You were a superstar this weekend.’ He said ‘Everybody was’.
And they were.
Can’t wait for June, then finally November.
Make a life not a living…
