A Retreat to Remember…

This is a blog post by Jess Gallagher – Business Support Manager at The Mercerie

Let’s go back to September 2025 – Sue and I are sitting in her kitchen after running our second successful Crochet Retreat of 2025 at Breathing Space Norfolk.  We would always have a debrief… it mostly involved looking at gorgeous photos and remembering how amazing the food was!

We talked about how magical these weekends are and how much we enjoyed them.   Sue was trying to decide what workshops she could run for the 2026 Retreats.  They’d sold out long ago of course – they always do – and Sue wanted to make sure our guests continued to be captivated and excited by whatever she was going to teach.   Sue seemed more anxious about this than usual, a little more concerned about how she was going to plan and write a new workshop.

In hindsight – I can see now that this was because Sue was beginning to struggle with her health symptoms and her mind was starting to be a tricky place for her.

Lots of our guests had openly said to her on previous retreats…

“You know Sue – we would just come here for a weekend of crochet and relaxing – you don’t actually need to teach us anything!”

I reminded her of this and told her not to worry – we laughed and agreed we had plenty of time to make a plan for 2026…or so we thought.

Fast forward to January 2026 and Sue became ill, very ill, very quickly.  So quickly in fact that by March, Sue had left us – and we were all stunned.

Next came a flurry of many swift and necessary decisions to ensure The Mercerie could continue – and somewhere on that list of decisions was – the Retreats. 

We had sold all the places.  May and September.  People were planning to travel.  Guests loved these weekends.  Could they still happen, should they still happen?

I tentatively contacted our guests and asked how they felt – the weekends would of course be very different now, but would they still want to come?

The response was a resounding YES.  

A few could no longer make it – we understood – but those spaces were soon filled – just as they always have been.

I felt enormously grateful that our wonderful guests trusted me enough to hold this space for them and to continue to run the weekend for Sue.

May 2026 soon came around and I began to feel wobbly.  

I haven’t really stopped since January – especially work wise.  Running The Mercerie for Sue has been a welcome distraction from my emotions, and it’s easier to put a front on when you’re busy.   Working mostly alone, I could process my feelings in private and then be strong in front of people.

I knew on the May Retreat I wouldn’t be able to hide how I feel, the honest truth about how much I miss Sue – every day.

Friday 29 May – 3pm…. the first guests began to arrive. 

I switch into work mode.  Show people to their rooms, settle them in, show them where we will meet later… my shoulders were up.  Can I do this?

5pm comes.

We are all gathered at the table, for our usual welcome drinks.  Then it hits me.  Sue’s not here.  I’m doing this without her.  There’s an obvious empty seat next to me.

I’ve got Paulina and Mags (from Breathing Space) by my side – literally.  They had promised me that they would help me this weekend and they stuck to their word.

Paulina stepped in, and gathered us all into a circle.  We closed our eyes and listened to music while we thought of Sue.  Tears began to flow and soon everyone was crying.  It was as if we had all simultaneously let go.

We needed to.

After this, we gathered back around the table and I read out some words I wanted to say.  I knew this would be difficult – but I felt the love from everyone round that table.

I felt as though Sue was beside me, cheering me on. 

Soon conversation turned tears into smiles and laughter started to appear.  The sun was shining and we allowed ourselves to remember happier times.

My shoulders could drop.  This will be ok.

7pm – We gathered for dinner, and as usual Mags and Helen cooked us some sensational food.  The kitchen was full with the sound of chatting, and everyone was smiling and beginning to relax.

Saturday morning began with our guided meditation led by Paulina – where we honoured Sue of course.  We could begin our day with a clear mind.

Following that one of our guests, and Sue’s friend Helen was kind enough to run a session for us, exploring colour and linking it to our memories and emotions.  It was very powerful and Sue would have loved it. Thank you Helen.

I didn’t teach any workshops this weekend.  I didn’t want to try and replicate Sue.  It just didn’t feel right.  Instead – I created the space for us all to just be.  To talk about happy times, to process the loss of Sue and to talk about what she had given us all.

On Saturday afternoon we were treated to an incredible sound bath by Paulina.  It was incredibly powerful and we felt Sue was with us.

Paulina uses vibrational sounds to help alter your consciousness and create a deep sense of peace, wellbeing and better health. 

Of course seeing all our amazing blankets in real life was as breathtaking as ever.  I will never get bored of this!! Every blanket is so unique.  Sharing creations with people who know and appreciate what it takes to make a blanket like this is so meaningful and special.

What shines out to me from the weekend – is the amazing friends we have made, and the community that Sue has created.   That’s what this retreat was about.  Supporting each other and being grateful for the time we shared with Sue.

I want to thank all who joined me on this weekend – and for everything you did to carry me.  Sue would have been so proud of us all.

I’m running our second retreat of the year in September – and I know some of you will be joining me.

I am looking forward to it – I know it will be another very special weekend.

Jess x