British Columbia Canada

Protection Island.. more than a little in love!

The boys are tucked up in bed and Matt wanted an early night … so I decided to get a cab to ‘wherever the cabbie recommended’… and ended up at nanaimo harbour. The sun was just beginning to dip and as I walked up the jetty I spotted a little boat firing up its engine…it turns out that the ferryman was heading out to ‘Protection Island’ and I couldn’t turn down the offer of a ride…

… what a place! If I could design an Island then Protection would be it… in fact, as a little girl, I think I painted it’s spruce lined shores and rickety jettys… it’s forests and sandy shores…I’m sure that, on grey and rainy days, I named its streets… Pirates Lane and Treasure Trail… and when I used to write by torch light under my covers I’m sure I created its residents…. Billy Bones and Nancy Swashbuckle…

As the ferryman and his boat chugged away from the island i put his promise to return at 10pm safely at the back of mind.. headed up the little gangplank and into the belly of the island… it felt like home…

Deja vu. The heady smell of pine… so strong and earthy. No roads .. no cars.. just little buggy’s… the lanes beckon you in and, as there was just enough light to explore I couldn’t resist but follow the tracks…

Little cabins nestled in the trees .. backyards sliding down to meet the waters edge.. no sound other than birds… against a backdrop of lapping waves. Looking out from the shore, the lights of Nanaimo began to sparkle..

I sat for a while with an elderly couple … sitting reading together.. glass of wine in hand and a flock of Canada geese wading beside them. I can’t begin to tell you how this island felt … it almost made me cry. As I made my way back to jetty I found a little pub.. a ramshackle, beard wearing, country music kinda pub.. where I felt I should have ordered a double malt and not a Diet Coke! A perfect place to pass the time and I figured that, if the ferryman failed to return, then they’d maybe let me sleep in the bar til morning!

But, true to his word, he returned and his little boat expertly skimmed the water in darkness, heading for the light of Nanaimo. I have to come back here soon.. and maybe see if I can stay there for a summer or two… a proper, rip roaring, smugglers kind of place. I didn’t want to leave!

A random evening that has left me more than a little in love!

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Sacha Brakenbury

As mum to three sons (and auntie to ten!) Sacha is kept busy trying to keep the kids alive, safe, fed and watered. Having specialised in Child Psychology and Linguistics at the University of Reading, Sacha went on to complete her Postgraduate Certificate in Education before taking up her first teaching post as Head of Boys Sport and Year 6 teacher. After 6 years, Sacha was fortunate enough to awarded a travelling fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, enabling her to undertake an extensive research project overseas. Sacha has worked with some of the world's top professional sports and educational institutions across Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand - researching ways of engaging young people through the medium of sport and in particular how this can help to reduce drug use and gang membership. After returning to the UK Sacha became Education Director at Ipswich Town Football Club, leading in the government's 'Playing for Success' scheme. She went on to establish three highly respected Study Centres back in the East of England, each of which used sport as a means of motivating children and young people. After successfully completing her National Professional Qualification for Headship in Cambridge, Sacha went on to study for her Masters Degree in Education. With the arrival of her three sons, Sacha decided it was time to 'go it alone.' She set up her own business consultancy, supporting a range of charities and organisations across the UK. Securing funds in excess of £2 million pounds, Sacha was able to 'give wings' to a wide range of charitable causes close to her heart. She continues this today with work specifically for Child First Trust. It was her own kids that were the inspiration behind her establishing Learning Academies (www.learningacademies.co.uk) - a tutoring company that has the simple mission to motivate and encourage its students to become confident and assertive learners who are not afraid to 'take risks' and challenge themselves. As a passionate photographer, Sacha is never more at home than when she's travelling, camera in hand, boys in tow. As a qualified medic with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, she is able to combine her love the outdoors with her passion for wild animals.

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