Mind, body & soul 


Theo’s recipe for a HAPPY HEALTHY OUTDOOR LIFE


Tree surgeon Theodore McCausland, 36, spends most of his life outdoors, shinning up trees with a chainsaw in hand. Here the father of two boys tells how he keeps in shape and his secret for staving off a cold…


Tell us a little about yourself… I live between Leeds and Langley villages with my wife Beth, who is 43, and two sons who are aged eight and six.


I currently work as a tree surgeon,


having changed careers eight years ago. I used to do a bit of everything rural — working for Plumpton College, living and working on the Netherfield site in East Sussex. This involved feeding the cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens early in the morning, instructing all aspects of farming, before setting up on my own as a tree surgeon. In this, I work for lots of individual clients instead of for one employer on one site.


Everything changed as I became a


father. However, I can honestly say that I now do something I love every day — and get paid for it — and get the chance to be my own boss.


How are you? I am very well and happy, busy with work. I have good friends and a lovely family.


How is your health generally? Generally, I am very healthy, the last to get sick in the family, if at all. I spend the majority of daylight hours outside, rain or shine (or snow or winds). If a job gets rained off, I stay outside and work on my own wood, sawing and splitting or looking after my animals and garden. Occasionally, I suffer with muscular


pains in my back, which is to be expected with my line of work. I have to pull my own weight and my chainsaw up a tree daily and then move the wood I cut to tidy up.


Have you ever had any major illnesses?


When I was a child, I was deaf until I was 12 — and underwent about five operations to restore my hearing. I hear at about 90% now. Apart from growing up and spending a lot of time outdoors, I think that this is why I like to get outside as much as I can and enjoy my own company.


Do you take any medicines? No — just occasional pain relief.


Have you ever considered herbal remedies? Yes. I have used herbal remedies for mouth ulcers, and had homeopathy treatments previously. When I feel under the weather — like a cold is coming — I make a concoction of garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, whiskey and honey. It tends to burn any sign of flu or cold away — and hold it at bay. My children tell me that I am “stinky” when I drink it and for some time afterwards!


Ever needed an osteopath or chiropractor? I visit the osteopath on and off for relief from pain from torn muscles, and he has treated an ear infection. But as stopping work isn’t an option, it relieves and removes pain sometimes to allow me to continue.


What, if any, exercise do you take? I climb trees, so my work is very physical. I cycle, I wouldn’t say regularly, but when I get a chance. I like going on walks and playing with the boys, cricket, hide and seek, water fights etc. (which involves climbing a lot of trees). Occasionally, I will go swimming. But I definitely need to take up some


sport/hobby — when I get some spare time! I keep meaning to get on the bikes more, as a family. One of my interests is hunting, I go deer stalking, which involves lots of walking, patience in all weathers, and carrying of equipment and dragging of deer back to the truck. It is a very physical activity and can take me five hours to then prepare the meat for the table.


What are your vices? Sugar! I have a very sweet tooth — but I excuse myself by saying that I need the calories after climbing. My wife tells me to have some bread with my butter sometimes. Oh, and I make damson gin that I also like tasting — but when it’s gone it’s gone.


What is the best piece of health advice anyone has ever given you? I was always encouraged to eat good natural food, fresh fruit and veg, use good products. We grow a lot of our own fruit and veg. Expanding year on year — we are managing to stock the freezers for winter more and more.


I have a dream of being more self-


sufficient — not reliant on the supermarkets, to live in a sustainable way. Growing our own vegetables, eating meat that I have hunted and prepared, burning the wood, a bi-product from my job, eating eggs laid by our own chickens and living a simple life with low living costs and less stress. But we are a long way off that.


Get plenty of fresh air — it helps you think clearly and keeps the germs at bay.


Would you like to live forever? Only if I could guarantee my health.


Mid Kent Living 45


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