24 Comments
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Cerina Triglavcanin's avatar

I enjoyed hearing you read your post. I have been contemplating it myself. I think the iPhone quality was absolutely fine. Well done! You’ve inspired me.

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Cerina Triglavcanin's avatar

Thank you for the tips. I will choose a short post. I hope my Australian accent is understood by all 😆

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Victoria's avatar

Aussie accents are amazing so I’m sure it will be wonderful!

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Victoria's avatar

Thank you Cerina! I have learnt that I breathe quite heavily so I need to have the phone a bit further away. 😂 Aside from that, recording it as a Voice Memo and uploading it is super easy. Definitely give it a try. I can’t wait to hear it. ☺️

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Clare Louise Larkin's avatar

This day sounds such a beautiful gift, thank you for sharing, inspiration for us all 🌱🌻🍀

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Victoria's avatar

Thanks for reading, Clare. 🥰

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David Barton's avatar

What a wonderful experience to treasure; so many beautiful creative practices to return to 🙏🌿

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Victoria's avatar

It was wonderful. I would highly recommend it if you can find one that inspires you. ☺️

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Maïlys Ray's avatar

I’ve never been to a writing retreat - and definitely still struggle to call myself a writer too - but reading about your experience really made me wish I would go to one someday. And I couldn’t like more this mantra 'The magic is in you’ ✨

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Victoria's avatar

It’s such a beautiful mantra, isn’t it? I love it because it is cohesive yet celebrates everyone’s individual brand of magic at the same time. I hope you get to go to one one day. If you fancy coming to England in June 2026, Laura and Tanya are running another one here. 😁

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Jenna's avatar

What a wonderful post. This sounds like a wonderful birthday gift and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it.

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Victoria's avatar

Thank you for reading and for being here, Jenna! When you renovate your stable block, maybe you could add a room for writing retreats! 😉

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Emily Male's avatar

I love that you added an audio ! It's brilliant 🙏 I was hoping you were going to write about your experience at the writing retreat 💕 I would love one day to be brave enough. It sounds like you had a wonderful time.

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Victoria's avatar

It’s a good aim to have - building up to it when you are ready. I’m so glad I went and that my husband encouraged me when my confidence failed; it really was such a magical day.

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Claudia Kollschen's avatar

I'm so glad that you had this wonderful experience! Sounds really magical! ✨️🩷

Of course you are a writer! 🥰 Your essays are beautiful proof of that. Keep writing, they are lovely and so interesting!

I enjoyed listening to this post as well. It was lovely to hear your voice for the first time - especially while reading a post on finding your voice. 😊

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Victoria's avatar

Thank you Claudia! I was so nervous about the audio but hopefully it will add a different dimension. It’s so weird hearing your voice back because it always sounds so different to how you hear it in your head. 😂

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Claudia Kollschen's avatar

So true! I don't know if I'd ever get used to it. 😂

But I really liked *your* audio and encourage you to do it again! 🎙️😊

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Laura Pashby's avatar

Oh Victoria, this post is so beautiful! Thank you so much for these gorgeous words and for capturing the day so perfectly. What a joy it was to write with you. Keep listening to the magic! ✨

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Victoria's avatar

Thank you so much, Laura! It was such an amazing day; I’ve told almost everyone I know how wonderful it was. 😂 Can’t wait for the next one.

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Hilda Scheenstra's avatar

Oh wow, what a present (to yourself)! I can feel your afterglow. I love Laura Pashby, she is so inspiring! And what a lovely place to write. Magic!

I’ve never been on a writing retreat, but maybe I will someday. I did a walking retreat a few weeks ago and in the evening we chose an inspiration card, mine was Magic…. 🥰

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Victoria's avatar

My dream retreat would be some combination of walking and writing so your walking retreat sounds fabulous. Magic seems to be a theme for a lot of us here - I think it’s so special to have a common thread that weaves us together. 🧵

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Hilda Scheenstra's avatar

Yes, that would be a nice combination. Here in the Netherlands Francine Postma does that kind of retreats, so maybe, one day.... 😊

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Julie W's avatar

Perfectly summed up, Victoria. This was my first writing retreat and I was convinced I was going to embarass myself but Laura made it such a safe space to be. I was worried it was going to feel competitive but it absolutely didn't. Now I just need to channel a bit of bravery into starting a substack!

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Victoria's avatar

You certainly didn’t embarrass yourself; I thought the bits you read aloud were wonderful! ☺️ I hope you do start a Substack - you will have one subscriber here for sure.

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