Getting to Know: Natalee Hazelwood

Natalee Hazelwood is a video reporter and photographer for a number of newspapers within Johnston Press group across Herts, Beds, Bucks and Northamptonshire which includes the Hemel Hempstead Gazette series.

As a keen cyclist she knows Dacorum not just for work but also play and proudly claims Ashridge woods to be one of the best places to ride in the three counties. After seven years filming for local newspapers Natalee will be pedalling off into the sunset when she moves to the south of France with her partner in the new year.

What is your favourite food?

At the risk of sounding like a complete hippy, I started a Paleo diet for a editorial feature a few years ago which consists of sticking to raw foods such as home-cooked meats, vegetables, nuts and seeds and have been on it ever since. My end of the day quick go-to Paleo combo is a nice vegetable stir fry sprinkled with sesame seeds and sweet chilli kick.

What’s the most played song on your iPod?

At the moment Ben Howard’s thoughtful ‘I forgot where we were’.

Favourite quote?

‘Life is like riding a bicycle, to stay balanced you have to keep moving.’

What is your favourite thing to do to relax?

I love to ride my bike with friends or a solo adventure. As a photographer I find endless landscapes to snap on my travels.

Thing you hate doing the most?

Driving. Why can’t we hurry up and invent the iTeleporter app or something.

If you could have 5 famous people for dinner past or present who and why?

Lets just go with the last five actors who played Doctor Who, then we could talk about time and space whilst 
tucking into spuds.

If you knew the world was ending in 2014, what would you do differently?

At the pivotal moment I would drink wine and hold my loved ones 
close.

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be and why?

When we finally nail space tourism I would book a window seat with extra leg room.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wish I had possessed a strong sense of who I was and what I wanted to be but then I would have missed out on all the different experiences I have had along the way. An Ikea poster once said that life is a journey not a destination.

What was the last film you watched?

I watched sci-fi Divergent (2014) on Netflix recently.

The plot is set in a futuristic community where everyone is grouped into strict tribes based on their strongest characteristic. 
Those who do not fit in are left to die. It bought an end to all wars but at what cost?

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

A group of us form the Gazette took part in the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home 18 mile walk across the Chiltern three peaks his summer and thoroughly enjoyed the it... until the last three miles which was pure hell!

What’s the best/worst gift you’ve ever given/received?

Tinned meat when I was going through a vegetarian phase.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who gave it their best shot.

What is your favourite thing to do or place to visit in Dacorum?

As you can imagine, I get around Dacorum quite a bit with my job so how can I pick just one place! Sometimes it’s not the place but the people in it but if I had to choose then I love discovering the deer in Ashridge woods.