In September the abundance glitter from our Fairy Godmother’s wand fell upon Danielle Grunberg, the lucky winner of $100. This windfall happily filled a gap which Danielle had been wondering how to close! Ask and it shall be given.
What a pleasure it was to speak with Danielle who told me she’s a ‘social artist’ rather than a business woman, combining a sense of personal duty with spirituality in its broadest sense. Having a Danish mother, an Austrian father, being raised in France and studying French Literature at university, Danielle described her life as ‘patchwork’.
Then . . .
After university, Danielle moved to a job with Danish TV, leaving the Theatre Department to work in London where she ran community theatre groups for fifteen years before leaving that world as it was ‘too slow’. It wasn’t really a conscious decision but being fired by the politics of the 1980s, Danielle was driven to co-found and co-ordinate the Women’s Peace Alliance and travelled the world speaking to and working with women’s groups. Having led a nomadic life and feeling she lacked confidence, the involvement with these groups helped build confidence. Later, the anti-nuclear lobby with Greenpeace drew Danielle to Somerset.
Life settled for a while as Danielle lived on a small holding in Somerset with her partner. This place was beautiful and she loved caring for her animals and growing her own food. The ending of the relationship brought much heartache as the place was sold, being financially impossible to maintain alone.
Describing herself as a “mad, crazy woman” adding that she’s not passive by nature, Danielle demonstrated this by moving from Somerset to the Highlands of Scotland thirteen years ago to build only the second eco house north of the border. Defeated by the volume of rainfall, another move followed to Edinburgh and then onwards to settle in the Borders for eight years.
Her passion for communication has been shared by taking personal development training into schools in an effort to help children better deal with the new world.
Feeling exhausted by all the moving? Danielle wasn’t and joined The Transition Movement which has spread over the last four years and is concerned with climate change and oil consumption and ways to alleviate future problems. Towns and cities are being examined at a micro level. Garden shares are being set up where locals all grow what they like and share it. Local shops are supported via a local currency in order to build a ‘resilient community’ which produces enough food locally. This work is ongoing and politicians are privately reading The Transition Handbook, Ed Milliband being an example.
Now . . .
A realisation that her heart and soul are French, having been raised in France, has led to a life-changing decision; Danielle intends to relocate to France by the end of 2010, realising that from the age of eight she has felt anchored there. As I write, funding for this new adventure is required but, with a real belief in synchronicity, September’s lucky winner trusts all will be well, as she is starting to lead a guided life.
Next . . .
Currently still working for The Council of Europe as a part-time environmentalist, Danielle has other plans; why doesn’t that surprise us? For five years now she’s been procrastinating over setting up an organic farm and course centre in France in the Alpes Maritimes area and relocating ‘home’ will facilitate this.
Passionate about inner as well as outer ecology, Danielle also intends to run short three-day courses to enable CEOs to learn to ‘breathe again’ while eating local organic food and drinking local wines, all while making an income for this powerful lady.
The daughter of a very talented 1930s surrealist watercolour painter, Danielle has some beautiful prints of her mother’s original works for sale. Surrealism was very popular in the Thirties. The website is currently under reconstruction, having been hacked four times! However, if you’re interested in these beautiful pictures and collages, Danielle would love to hear from you. Click here to email Danielle.
Finally, would it surprise you to know that Danielle is 70 this month and is heading off to France to celebrate?
Oh yes, and having been single for twenty years but never lonely, Danielle would now like to meet someone with whom to share her adventures. Know what? I think she just might!
Interview by Janet Swift
