The Seagull's Keeper - Justine
About
Hey I`m Justine aka The Seagull`s Keeper. Jus to some. Jussy to others. Mum to the kids. And the love of Johnny’s life - along with his love for the kids, Manchester City, trail running, travel...
Why The Seagull`s Keeper?
Johnny refers to me as ‘The Seagull’s Keeper’. Not because he needs a carer or guard. But because I am his supporter, enabler and anchor. And boy does he need that to keep him focused because he can BOUNCE all over the place!
Keeper of other `stuff`
As well as being The Seagull`s Keeper I am also a keeper of quotes that resonate with me, us and our values. And I am our family’s ‘keeper of memories’: nurturing traditions to hold on to, new experiences to cherish and finding interesting ways to ‘keep’ these traditions and memories alive.
I keep bits of my heart all over the world
“Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave but not our hearts”. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
Home was originally the UK. So it is inevitable a piece of my heart remains in the UK nestled somewhere in the Saddleworth Hills. In 2004 we left and emigrated to Australia. Leaving behind our family and friends. Heading to a country we had never visited before and a place where we knew no one. With no jobs or long term plan other than to land safely in Melbourne to see ‘what happens next’.
Australia is currently home. I love the life we have built here with our children. If it is to remain our home only time will tell. But it too has a piece of my heart in the hills of the Mornington Peninsula looking out to beaches and water beyond. There are other places I have travelled that I have fallen in love with and that have also taken a piece of my heart. And I hope as I continue to travel I leave bits of it scattered all over our wonderful world.
Everything happens for a reason
I am a believer in fate. Not in that you can just sit back and let some supernatural power drag you along for the ride. But that you have to put yourself out there and seize opportunities as they arise. I believe that things happen for a reason. We just may not know why at that moment in time, but it will eventually become apparent.
Runs for Chocolate
I feel fate had a hand in introducing me to trail running, and now I have a love hate relationship with it. I LOVE where it takes you. The people you meet. The camaraderie on the trails. The sense of accomplishment after the run. But I don’t find running easy. People say running is the most natural thing ever, well not for me. Breathing and running at the same time is an art I still haven`t mastered. I love people chatting away to me on the trails. It’s a great distraction,and I could listen to them for hours. But don’t expect me to respond because talking AND running AND breathing is just not a combination I can sustain.
The reason I run? I run for chocolate. Because if I am going to work bloody hard and burn all those calories I want to reward myself with something I LOVE. I could replace ‘chocolate’ with ‘bubbles’ but why not have both all life’s too short too compromise, don’t you agree!
Perseverance prevails
By profession I am a nurse. It was something I was instinctively drawn to and I started my hospital based training at age 17. What an eye opener that was for someone so young and naive! I had our first child whilst still a student nurse and 6 weeks after he was born I was back to work. I had taken my final exams, qualified and was one of only a few to secure a full time nursing position at the hospital.
To say those early years as a young mother with a ‘not always present’ partner were tough is a massive understatement. I had no idea at the time just how tough it was but looking back I can see we were just existing, going through the motions of surviving. With a lot of hard work, determination and perseverance things improved.Son number two came along and as a family we settled into the reasonably comfortable life we have now where we don’t constantly worry about the next bill - unless that involves a trip to the dentist or the vet!!
Don`t Wish, Do
Looking back, my years of nursing have exposed me to the worst and the best of humankind, providing a rare and invaluable insight into how we as humans ‘tick’. I now incorporate my experience in health coaching and chronic disease management with my interest in nutrition, fitness and wellbeing to offer coaching and assist other to navigate through life’s ‘bumps’ and achieve their goals whether they be large or small.
The Memory Keeper
My innate, and often frustrating capacity for organisation planning and creating LISTS of LISTS of LISTS has led me to support others planning for events; be that fundraisers or ridiculously stupid 135 mile non stop running races, as well as putting together awesome travel itineraries leading to some insane travel experiences.
We have found ourselves sleeping in the treetops of a jungle village accessible only by zip lines in Lao, staying in a homestay in the heart of the Muong Hoa Valley of Vietnam and in the Italian countryside in a 18th century chapel. And we have taken a road trip off the beaten track through the remote countryside of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a heart stopping journey on the road between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia.
Whatever the adventure we have always returned safe, with truely amazing stories share. To complement this I have created ‘The Memory Keeper’ a side hustle where I edit photos and collate travellers stories to create photo books, a valuable keepsake to remind them of their awesome adventures.
And Finally
And finally, to fill whatever spare time I have I indulge in olympic weightlifting, hiking, photography, reading, walking my cute little dog ‘Tillie’ and being Secretary of Peninsula Trail Runners.
Don’t just exist, live.