Having just returned from a holiday of a lifetime I realise that the rooms in my mind always had such heavy overhead closures. Self-containment, worry, security were always so very important to me. They made me feel safe.

But I was so free, so happy on this holiday.

The Finnish scenery brought out the artist in everyone. The glorious white shades of snow, who knew white had such colour.

A taste of apprehension as an unknown activity was approaching would normally be tinged with fear, an altogether stronger emotion to be wrestled back into the room with bars on the window, padlocks on the doors and a very substantial covering above, within my mind.

But this time a tingling excitement was the emotion. I wanted the exhilaration of the promised speed, the unknown discomfort of staying in the game.

As we approached the destination I could hear them, smell the anticipation and it fed my excitement, not my worry. This was a first for me. I was living purely in the moment and each second a new sense came alive and I was loving it.

Tuition was essential for this activity, for our safety but also for the safety of these beautiful beasts. I listened to the lesson intently. But once released from the tutorial I could meet and join our excitable team of magnificent Husky dogs howling, jumping, rearing up against their harnesses secured to the sledge that was to be mine.

Taking charge of these six hounds, baying for the wilderness opened the prison of my mind and as we sped away the only moment was the present one.

No roof on that room, with so much heady, intoxicating space.

It has changed me.