The last time I shared a room with a complete stranger was on a school trip to France when I stayed in a dormitory with five other giggling teens. Sleep was lowdown on our list of priorities so, when 40 years later, I was requested to tick a box stating that ‘I would be happy to share’ I was filled with slight trepidation.
I had booked a three night wellness retreat staying in Plas Cadnant, an historic country estate close to the Menai Bridge, Anglesey offering yoga, wild swimming and relaxation. After settling into our rooms and deciding who preferred which bed, we were called onto the lawns for our first group session – outdoor restorative yoga. Stretching and relaxing as the sun slowly set behind the Welsh mountains was the perfect start to the weekend.
After a delicious freshly prepared vegetarian evening meal, a feeling of dread filled the room as it was announced that we would be doing introductions. Thankfully, it was a painless and enjoyable experience that involved playing a game to memorise each others names. A great icebreaker, and then time for bed, and my first communal sleepover. My new room-mate and I quickly settled into an unspoken routine where one of us used the bathroom and the other got undressed. I read with the light on, my new friend instantly fell asleep, it was if we had known each other for years.
Pre-breakfast, a yoga class was scheduled out near the lawns, a gentle way to start the day and limber up for our first outdoor swim. We were heading to Llyn Padarn, one of the largest natural glacially formed lakes in Wales, set in the stunning Snowdonia landscape. The chilled deep blue water of the mountain lake was refreshing and invigorating, with the added bonus of a comforting mug of hot pea soup to warm us up at the end. Our afternoon was thenfree for walks in the stunning hidden gardens on the 200 acre Plas Cadnant estate, the option of a relaxing massage or another refreshing dip in one of the nearby waterfalls.
The next day was a sea swim at Newborough, the picturesque Anglesey beach famous for long white sands edged with an evergreen pine forest. After a pep talk from Dave our safety instructor about all the bitey stingy stuff that we might encounter, we swam cautiously in the shallow lagoon as the tide slowly ebbed in. Our small group of mainly single 40 something ladies were all good friends now, and as we swam a former police inspector told of tales of life at the cutting edge of crime. It was fascinating.
Back at Plas Cadnant, we tucked into tea and home made cake and then rested in our rooms until the next yoga session came round. I hung out with my new room mate, chatting about everything and nothing and I realized that room sharing can be a very enjoyable and life affirming experience. You start sharing with a stranger but end up sharing with a friend.
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