The definition of Coddiwomple:

Coddiwomple is believed to be an old English slang verb meaning “to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination” and it’s something I believe we all do.

Here I will share my random, lighhearted musings as I continually travel purposefully through life as a 50-something, adult orphan, childfree by choice oneling (a softer way of saying “only child”!)

Let’s coddiwomple together!

Introduction

Hello, thank you for stopping by! My name is Wendy Jennings, also known as The Coddiwomple Lady and I am a writer/author, artist and coach. I live with my partner, Tim, in the beautiful UK county of Kent. I also love chocolate, cake, sunflowers and a nice cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc (although not all at the same time!) I’m also a qualified Reiki Practitioner.

I have long believed that I am being guided; it’s a feeling of knowing I’m supported, protected and that things happen for the right reasons. I felt it most strongly when my parents were both ill with terminal cancer in 2012 (the whole journey covered just nine months and they passed away five weeks apart) and this has continued as I’ve got older.

I had no idea what purpose my life would have after Mum & Dad had gone, but I knew I was embarking on a new journey and forwards was the only way to go. I was 43 when they died and if I wasn’t a daughter anymore, who was I? I have no siblings, I’m  not a Mum and at that time I wasn’t in a relationship either.

Eventually through something that was so devastating to me and my family, magic started to happen. 

My story spilled out into my first book “From Cancer To Coddiwomple – A Story of Love, Loss and Daring to Dream”, which is my story of how I started to rebuild my life after 2012 and my travels to Bali and Australia in 2015-2016. The profits from this enable me to support St Barnabas House hospice in Sussex and to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer. You can check it out here.

Readers' reactions to this book led me to realise that my new purpose in life is to encourage others to dare to dream and live life with passion and purpose. 

Dad was a terrific artist, specialising in watercolours and I chose to keep his easel, pallets, paintbrushes and other assorted materials and have a go myself. I’ve always loved drawing wildlife and birds and he used to say I could be “quite useful” at it when I put my mind to it! However, I never really pursued it when I was younger, I never seemed to have the time or the space to create anything (I now know that was an excuse!)

Since he died, and especially since the Lockdowns of 2020, my art journey has been evolving and I feel Dad’s influence and encouragement every time I paint at his easel or pick up a pencil and paper.

Painting and drawing gives me a sense of peace and that all is well with the world. I’m constantly inspired by my natural surroundings and our wildlife. It enables me to get messy, access my inner child and generally have fun trying new materials and techniques. Writing and journaling helps me to unscramble my mind and gain some perspective of this crazy world we live in.

If you’d like to join me on a monthly coddiwomple through life, please subscribe and be part of my Coddiwomple Community so we can all encourage each other and support each other.

Check out my website and blog here

Find me on Facebook here

Find me on Instagram here

I’d love to welcome you to my Coddiwomple Community!

Be part of a community of people who share your interests. I invite you to leave comments in the Comments section, I love to hear from you!

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