Beautiful, Precious ME…and cancer!

 October 7th - 13th 2024
 Contact us to be considered.

A retreat that sees our resident writer Aga Lesiewicz and one of our founders Carla Octigan, bring their personal experience of breast cancer to a week of acknowledgement, writing and joy. 

All of your meals at home will be tasty and nutritious. Everything will be laid out for you, so that you can focus on writing and get time to quieten your mind amongst nature. Equally though, we will be more than happy to show you our favourite spots in the area for delicious dinners, an apertivo or ice cream!!

Processing through writing

For Aga, as a writer, it was the natural thing to do. It was a way of escaping the scary and unpredictable reality of being a cancer patient into a world she could control. She'd been doing it for years in her books: weaving narratives where she was the puppet-master.

Now my writing had a new purpose: it turned the chaos and bleakness of life filled with hospital appointments and fear into a story I was in charge of.

It helped a lot. Of course it did, our brains love a good story, they are ‘story processors’ that turn our seemingly random lives into plots that make sense.

And then I realised what was so scary about this new life: it didn’t make sense. The shock of the diagnosis, being suddenly transformed from a self-reliant adult into a patient whose life depended on the decisions made by others - doctors, nurses, therapists - it all seemed alien to me. But gradually I got used to the new regime, punctuated by hospital appointments, treatments, and excruciating waits for test results.  

‘Story emerges from human minds as naturally as breath emerges from between human lips. You don’t have to be a genius to master it. You’re already doing it.’

And so, you slowly regain the sense of mastery and control that you were denied during treatment. By writing about it, you put the experience of cancer in its right place: not by forgetting about it, pretending it didn’t happen, or denying its power, but by using it to your advantage. This is your story to tell. 

Whether it’s letters, journaling, emails, social media posts, blogs, memoir, poetry or fiction, writing helps us understand ourselves and our lives. It helps us process our feelings, it lets us share them with others, and it heals.   

Through a series of gentle writing exercises and informal workshops led by Aga, you’ll have an opportunity to learn how to express your feelings and regain control of your life story in a safe and supportive environment.

Your Writing Teacher, Aga Lesiewicz, is a London-based fiction author and screenwriter.

She began her career as a radio presenter, and subsequently worked as a voice-over artist, interpreter, TV promo producer and director. A serious knee injury in 2013 forced her to give up her day job and write her first novel.
Her two psychological thrillers ‘Rebound’ and ‘Exposure’ have been published by Pan Macmillan. A feature animated film based on her screenplay is currently in pre-production. She writes full time and is now working on her third London-based psychological thriller as well as a historical novel.

Aga has an MA in English from the University of Warsaw and an MPhil in English Literature from the University of Lancaster.

agalesiewicz.com    panmacmillan.com/authors/aga-lesiewicz/

Investment for your Beautiful, Precious ME Retreat

We have a few options to tailor to all of your needs. Whether you need your own space, want to come along with a few friends or share with a partner, we have you covered.
This retreat is ideal for 5 - 8 guests only. Everything included on retreat is reflected in your choice of investment below.

Deluxe Ground Floor Room, Private Bathroom, Single Occupancy = £2760.
Deluxe Ground Floor Room, Private Bathroom, Double Occupancy = £2070 (pp) based on two people sharing a King bed or Twin beds.
Deluxe Ground Floor Room, Private Bathroom, Triple Occupancy =£1725 (pp) based on three people sharing with a single bed each. (Must be a group of three who know eachother)
1st Floor Room with a Shared Bathroom, Single Occupancy = £2415
1st Floor Room with a Shared Bathroom, Double Occupancy = £1840 (pp) based on two people sharing a Queen bed.
*This option is only available with someone you know.

Payment plans are available upon request.