JMarlene

JMarlene The Wild Adventures Podcast is a story telling portal to get to know where "normal" people see adven

It’s a wonderful, sunny Sunday morning. There’s a warm wind in the air and all I want to do today is read books, write s...
22/06/2025

It’s a wonderful, sunny Sunday morning. There’s a warm wind in the air and all I want to do today is read books, write stories, and eat good food.

Lately, I’ve been learning how to live slow… baking sourdough, making my own kefir, and getting my hands into the soil to grow vegetables from scratch. There’s a certain romance in it — in the quiet rituals, in the time taken, in stepping away from the rush of the digital world.

I’ve been caught too often in the pull of doomscrolling and the constant pressure to be productive. But recently, I turned off all social media between 8pm and 9am — and the difference has been remarkable. My mind feels calmer. My sleep deeper.

So here’s to a Sunday of slowness: reading, baking, gardening. Nothing urgent. Everything intentional.

This morning, the haar settled over Aberdeen like a veil — soft and silent, hiding the horizon and turning the familiar ...
21/06/2025

This morning, the haar settled over Aberdeen like a veil — soft and silent, hiding the horizon and turning the familiar into something strange and wonderful.

It’s one of my favourite things about living in Scotland. The way the haar rolls in without warning, cloaking the sea, softening the world, and making space for imagination. Down by the beach, I found myself dreaming of pirate ships just beyond the fog — waiting, watching, unseen.

Of course, no misty morning is complete without something sweet, so I wandered to Jax’s ( ) and picked up a few brownies and blondies (highly recommend). She’s a fellow book lover, so we shared a good chat about what we’re reading — or listening to — at the moment.

Now, back at the flat, the air outside is thick and warm, the haar doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon… and I’ve decided to be brave. Today I’m attempting my first gothic short story for a competition.

Wish me luck — and if you’re nearby, pop by Jax’s for something sweet and take a stroll through the mist.

Who knows what might be lurking just beyond the veil?

18/06/2025

They’d paired off like tiny gladiators, head to head, legs braced, taking turns to charge and retreat. A training session in miniature. Watching them, I couldn’t help but wonder — is this where the phrase “butting heads” comes from? It certainly looked the part.

All the while, the mothers stood a short distance away — calm, unbothered, wise. You got the sense they’d seen it all before. A quiet confidence in their watching, letting the little ones find their rhythm, their strength, their place.

There’s something deeply charming about warthogs. Unapologetically odd. Endearingly earnest. And in that moment, utterly captivating.

Just another unexpected joy in a journey filled with them.

It’s been three months since we returned from Kenya, and I haven’t quite been myself since. Some of you may have seen th...
16/06/2025

It’s been three months since we returned from Kenya, and I haven’t quite been myself since. Some of you may have seen the articles last week from the BBC and STV, sharing news of a breakthrough by the Universities of Aberdeen and Tokyo in how our bodies process pain. I was deeply honoured to be asked to speak as someone living with fibromyalgia — a condition that, like many autoimmune journeys, never really lets go.

In truth, I’ve been unwell ever since we came back. The photographs and videos — over two thousand of them — have sat quietly waiting. Waiting for the energy, the clarity, the space.

But lately, I’ve found myself beginning to revisit them. Slowly. Gently.

Because despite everything, Kenya was extraordinary. The safari was some of the best I’ve ever experienced — wild, quiet, untouched by crowds. We travelled without seeing another vehicle, and in that stillness, something settled. It felt like a gift to share that with my family and partner.

So, the images will start to come now, piece by piece.

This one — a baby elephant in Samburu — feels like the perfect place to begin. Serene, tender, and cast in the most beautiful palette of earth and light.

There is so much more to share.

Last weekend, one of my dearest friends and I took ourselves off on a little girls’ trip — themed, of course, around boo...
14/06/2025

Last weekend, one of my dearest friends and I took ourselves off on a little girls’ trip — themed, of course, around books.

We made our way to Wigtown, Scotland’s official Book Town. A tiny village with 15 bookshops (yes, fifteen), each with its own quirks, character, and creaky charm.

Everything closes by 4pm — something we’re not quite used to, but in a way, it added to the magic. What happens in a town where every shop is a bookshop… once the doors are closed and the streets go quiet?

We managed to visit 14 out of 15 shops, and somewhere in the wandering, new story ideas began to stir. Maybe something spooky. Maybe something wistful. Definitely something with shelves and secrets.

A perfect wee adventure for any book lover — and a beautiful reminder that even the quietest places can leave you buzzing with inspiration.

A rose, I thought, was a peony. A bee that looked like it belonged there. A garden that brought memories of my great aun...
12/06/2025

A rose, I thought, was a peony. A bee that looked like it belonged there. A garden that brought memories of my great aunt and granny. And just like that, the urge to photograph returned.

03/04/2025

Preparation for the Spring Exhibition at Leask House Gallery is in full swing and the energy is building—this will be our second year running the show, and it’s shaping up to be something really special.

In the midst of it all, I’ve returned to my watercolours, seeing if I can get a few smaller pieces ready for opening day on 9th May. Time is disappearing fast, as it always does before an exhibition… but it’s been such a joy to reconnect with the paintbrushes, especially as the Scottish sun starts streaming through the studio again.

This little piece is called “Two Guineas”—I’ve wanted to paint guinea fowl for years but hadn’t quite plucked up the courage until now. Not too shabby for a first attempt, I’d say!
4x4” (excluding mount).

___

24/03/2025

Sitting on the porch of our Ol Pejeta Airbnb, we spotted one of the park’s quiet treasures: the Grévy’s zebra. Known as the imperial zebra, they are the largest—and the rarest—of the three zebra species. Their stripes are finer, more delicate somehow, with beautiful patterns that seem almost hand-drawn. I’ve decided they’re my favourite.

Endangered but with a stable population, they’re mostly found in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, and I still find it remarkable that they’re named after a French president, Jules Grévy. But history aside, there’s something about seeing them here, grazing just beyond the porch, that feels deeply special.

It makes you wonder what it would be like to live on a wildlife estate full-time, how calming that rhythm of life might be. The simplicity of it—not in the sense of easy, but in being more in tune with the world around you. Less noise. More sky.

Maybe it’s something to manifest… a few months a year living like this. European winter sounds like a perfect time to trade grey skies for golden plains.

⸻

12/02/2025

I'm very excited to announce the re-launch of The Wild Adventures Podcast! The first episode of the new season is out now and available wherever you listen to podcasts.

https://zurl.co/crl7E

I’ve always felt more at ease lingering in the background, asking questions, rather than offering any answers of my own....
29/09/2024

I’ve always felt more at ease lingering in the background, asking questions, rather than offering any answers of my own. Introducing myself in any meaningful way has always felt like stepping beyond the safe shadows where I feel most comfortable. Yet here I am, venturing out of my comfort zone, hoping to learn and grow with this small act of vulnerability. So, here are a few things you may not know about me.

🌍 My true happy place is barefoot on the red soil of Africa, with the air heavy and charged as a storm brews above. It’s the smell of rain before it falls, the pulse of the earth beneath me, that feels like home in a way that’s hard to explain.

⚫ I am a Level 1 Squash Coach – a role I’ve grown into, learning more about myself and others with each step of the journey.

✍️ I’m also nurturing a lifelong dream of becoming an author. Two fantasy novels are slowly taking shape, and my creative portfolio edges towards completion at a pace that feels glacial at times but still moves forward.

Introduce yourself in the comments below so I can get to know more about you too!

📷 Photobomb by our two springers Spock and Cheese.

I spent the past week with my amazing little nephew, Bug. 🐛 He’s learning more about animals and can identify so many of...
11/08/2024

I spent the past week with my amazing little nephew, Bug. 🐛 He’s learning more about animals and can identify so many of them already. We got him a little lion outfit, one of the animals he loves imitating, and joyfully watched him wander around.

The whole week really made me think about how we see the world and how we are impacted by our surroundings.

I stepped out of my comfort zone and entered a few paintings into the The SAA 2024 Artist of the Year Awards. I didn't e...
06/06/2024

I stepped out of my comfort zone and entered a few paintings into the The SAA 2024 Artist of the Year Awards. I didn't expect to get far, so was brought to tears at the recognition of being shortlisted for one of my favourite paintings.

While I didn't go forward to the next round, it's given me a boost to keep stepping out of my comfort zone. You never know what might come of it.

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