Alastair Humphreys

Shouting from the Shed

Hello again!

And a very happy New Year wherever you happen to be. Please hit ‘reply’ and send me a photo if it’s somewhere that will make me jealous!

A bit of waffle first, and then a list of good things that have caught my eye recently…

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling drained by the algorithm, the slop of A.I drivel, the mad state of the world, and reading far too many books about climate-and-nature breakdown. So I have been trying to reboot my creativity and positivity by getting offline, away from draining ‘thin desires’. Better to dive into ‘thick desires’ (ones that change you in the process of pursuing them) and slowing down offline.

I’ve been enjoying using a cheap old film camera (this one), baking bread (easy recipe), committing to some year-long fitness goals, and watching different documentaries to my usual fare (The New Yorker at 100 for the slow, persistent, unashamed pursuit of excellence; Masaka Kids Africa for sheer joy of life and gratitude.)

I’m Alastair Humphreys, adventurer, book writer, and overexcited sender of four newsletters. Nobody needs that many emails from me!

You’re reading Shouting from the Shed. Please check it’s the one that suits you best – or switch to a better fit:

Thank you so much to all of you who help support these newsletters via Patreon (either monthly or annually) and keep the metaphorical lights on and the newsletters going out to 15,000 readers.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to five friends. I’d love to find 5,000 new readers this year. If you don’t enjoy it, please click ‘reply’ and let me know how it could be better!

Some things I’d like to share with you today:

  • ? EVENT: Get excited for the year’s adventures with a Night of Flight-Free Adventure in London on 19 March. It sounds brilliant (even though it includes me as a speaker… ?) Twelve speakers who have travelled far and wide without flying, from hyper-local adventures to world-wide odysseys. The thing that unites them is their passion for travel that doesn’t cost the earth.
  • ?‍? ARTICLE: Mum’s 27-year wait for global explorer to come home.
  • ? ART: What if you held a tree long enough for it to grow around your hand?
  • ? ARTICLE: In 2025, I thought a lot about riding my bike.
  • ? ARTICLE: After the Adventure – some advice.
  • ? ADVENTURE: Wild Swim Groups: a UK list of local groups you can get involved with if you like swimming with company.
  • ? SHORT FILM: This adventure began with a map. Or perhaps it began with a bike ride – I can’t remember any more. It doesn’t really matter, I suppose, but good ideas do tend to brew when either a map or a bicycle is involved.

Your Books

Let me know if you have published a book that my readers would appreciate.

Here’s what you’ve been writing recently:

A couple of years ago I dabbled with the idea of becoming a book editor (as I always find the process the least torturous bit of writing my own books!). So I’m delighted that the first manuscript I helped edit has now been published. Well done, Oscar!

Can I help you?

Let me know if you have a relevant project that my readers would appreciate.

Here’s what you guys have been up to recently:

  • ❤️ Matt (and family) runs Project Wild Earth: One family’s overland journey to help preserve and protect our wild Earth.

Thank you for reading. As Austin Kleon says, “This newsletter is free, but not cheap.” To show your support, would you mind forwarding it to someone who’d like it, sharing it on Twitter, reading one of my books, subscribing to a free podcast, getting a birthday greeting video from me, or maybe even donating to keep the newsletter going – either monthly on Patreon or treating me to a metaphorical cup of coffee.

(If you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here.)

Cheers,
Alastair

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Thank you so much to the 100+ of you who help support these newsletters via Patreon (either monthly or annually) and keep the metaphorical lights on and the newsletters going out to 18,000 readers.

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Needless to say, I’m extremely grateful to any generous nutters who opt to pay for something that they can receive for free! It’s not a transaction so much as a contribution that helps everyone. It’s the difference between being a patron and a customer. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea. We’ll see how it goes. Thank you.

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